Jóvenes sin fronteras: Latino youth take action for social justice & well-being

The Batey Urbano, part of a community-driven wellness initiative in

Chicago's Greater Humboldt Park community, is a Latino youth membership

club based on the methods of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire. Programming

fosters a “unity in diversity” approach to identity and social

responsibility through activities employing creative/performing arts and

participatory democracy. A project of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto

Rican Cultural Center, the Batey offers after school alternatives to youth

and develops youth leadership. A participatory ethnography was undertaken

with senior youth leaders to document the impact of the program on the

youth, the organization, and the community. Participant observation, eight

in-depth interviews as well as a group debriefing and review of program

materials were conducted over a two year period. Findings revealed how

Mexican and Puerto Rican youth came together to contribute to creating new

resources in the community that addressed population wellness

(dissemination of health information and activities around HIV/AIDS

prevention); as well as advancing human rights around Puerto Rican

political self-determination and Mexican immigrant rights. A new program

for broader based participation of community youth was institutionalized

and received external funding. Additionally, youth affirmed that

participation in the program increased their knowledge of critical health

and well-being issues in their community, and their cultural and

historical antecedents. They acquired a sense of purpose, hope and

aspirations for their future. Implications for participatory and

culturally sensitive health promotion with adolescents are discussed, with

particular attention to the use of creative/performing arts and civic

engagement activities.