Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114186

Darrell L. Hudson, MPH, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-218-4403, hudsondl@umich.edu, Naima T. Wong, BA, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory Street, Center for Research on Culture, Ethnicity and Health, SPH I, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, and Lee Bell, Neighborhood Roundtable and Youth Violence Prevention Project, 877 E. Fifth Avenue, Flint, MI, MI 48503.

Building upon existing Photovoice methodology, VideoVoice offers a dynamic approach to exploring the etiology of youth violence and potential solutions to prevent youth violence in the Flint,Michigan community. A team of high school students were placed with the Flint Youth Violence Prevention Center during the summer of 2004 to investigate youth violence. This team used VideoVoice to identify various community deficiencies, media influences and individual circumstances that lead to the provocation of youth violence across multiple settings. Pointing specifically to the Flint community, youth emphasized multiple factors that influence youth violence in their lives including restricted job opportunities, the accessibility of safe, clean recreation facilities, the relationship between the Flint police department and young African Americans in the city as well as poor school facilities and uninterested teachers. Youth also recognized that personal conflicts, which spur out of jealousy, gossip and peer pressure, often explode into extremely violent situations. The team also highlighted the role that media influences like music, video games and movies have on youth violence in their community. In addition to accenting negative influences that cause violence, youth also emphasized the importance of personal and community assets such as positive role models, participation in school activities and involvement in church. Through VideoVoice, youth have provided valuable insight about the multiple, complex influences that affect youth violence for interventionists, researchers and policy makers concerned with youth violence.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session

• participants will have a better understanding of issues surrounding youth violence
• potential policy strategies and interventions that for youth violence prevention will be

Keywords: Community Research, Photovoice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation