Empowering Youth through Participatory Action Research

Youth-Led Participatory Action Research is an inquiry process that includes critical thinking, gathering information, service learning, analysis and logical problem solving while building networks and strengthening voice. The steps taken are the following:

1. Identify the issue or problem. 2. Define what is known about that problem or issue. 3. Identify what additional information is needed to understand it. 4. Determine the research methods (photovoice, surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.) and develop an approach for collecting information and the work together as a team to accomplish this. 5. Use the information for education, understanding, strategic action and/or community change.

This framework leads to authentic and meaningful partnerships between youth and adults allies. Youth leaders have been successful in demonstrating to stakeholders, community members, policy makers, teachers and parents that youth should be a key part of the discussion and solutions to our health and nutrition concerns. The youth teams in California have been successful in tackling tough issues, such as limiting catering trucks selling unhealthy foods in front of schools, creating more innovative physical activity programs for youth, providing peer to peer nutrition education, creating access to clean, free drinking water in their schools, and working with community leaders to provide more access to fresh fruits and vegetables in their community.