ERIC Number: EJ1357495
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Jan
Pages: 33
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0743-5584
EISSN: EISSN-1552-6895
Youth Experiences in "Authoring Action": The Impact of an Arts-Based Youth Program on Youth Development
Ballard, Parissa J.; Anderson, Grace; Moore, Danielle Parker; Daniel, Stephanie S.
Journal of Adolescent Research, v38 n1 p178-210 Jan 2023
Authoring Action (A2) is a youth-focused, arts-based, afterschool and summer program. A2's mission is "to transform the lives of youth and the world through the power of creative writing, spoken word, visual and media arts, film-making and leadership education that promotes positive systemic change." Using in-depth interviews, this study aimed to understand how this arts-based program affects youth development. Participants in this study (N=36) were alums of Authoring Action (A2), interviewed when they were between the ages of 17-32. Over half identified as female (N=21). Most A2 participants were youth of color and participated in A2 between ages 13-17. Interview data were coded following several steps: generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and generating a report. Four themes describe the impacts of A2 for program participants: "communication," "cathartic and transformative experiences," "connection," and "critical consciousness." Programmatic features--getting paid to participate, shared group identity, and open access to program leaders and peers--were meaningful to youth participants. The mission and programmatic features of A2 support youth development; we discuss practices that may benefit other arts-based youth programs and the implications of such practices for youth development.
Descriptors: Alumni, Youth Programs, Adolescent Development, Art Education, Adolescents, Young Adults, Adults, Summer Programs, After School Programs, Experience, Compensation (Remuneration), Group Unity, Identification (Psychology), Peer Relationship
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: UL1TR001420