contemporary urban youth experience

Problem Statement

To understand how young people utilize and derive meaning from their local environments, a large-scale survey was deployed to engage youth about their experience of growing up in cities across the U.S. as part of the Growing Up In Cities - United States (GUIC-US) project. Young people were asked about community-level environmental support for youth development and the degree to which youth preferences were reflected in community design.

Methodologies

Survey questions were developed by linking Affordance Theory with Positive Youth Development outcomes and indicators. Young people were asked to map environmental assets using participatory GIS, highlighting the opportunities and assets present in their environments along with areas in which individual communities could improve to provide a more welcoming and supportive environment.

Deliverables

An online mapping survey of over 500 young people aged 9-19 years old was analyzed for use of outdoor places, independent mobility, and experiences and perceptions of community spaces. The data analysis will contribute to publications of the GUIC-US processes and findings.