Hello Readers,

My name is Tracy Medrano, and I am a current Ph.D. student in Learning Sciences and Policy at the University of Pittsburgh. This summer, I’ve been fortunate to intern with the Research & Evaluation team at the Forum’s Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. This experience has been invaluable, allowing me to bridge my academic research with practical application in the field of youth development and policy.

A significant focus of my internship has been exploring how research on Positive Youth Development (PYD) informs our training of practitioners and stakeholders, as well as how we can effectively disseminate this knowledge across different systems. When I dove into the literature on PYD, I was struck by the complex interactions between assets, skills, and relationships that support youth thriving.

My work this summer has made me reflect on and connect dots to my previous experience as a program director and youth worker. While pursuing my Masters in Applied Developmental Psychology, I had an internship in youth programming at Casa San José, a center for Latino immigrants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During this time, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the families and youth served. I wondered how these challenges were reflected or perceived in the lived experiences of young people and how they might overcome them. These questions became even more pronounced as concerns about safety, discrimination, and access to resources escalated within many communities of color.

In response to these challenges, I embraced a strength-based approach to programming rooted in Positive Youth Development principles. I asked myself: What assets and strengths do these youth possess? How can our organization leverage its resources to create a supportive environment? How would bringing people together in a safe space support youth thriving during this difficult time? These questions guided me to implement the photo novella method in our program—a participatory research approach that encourages youth to investigate and propose solutions to the issues affecting them, promoting youth voice and agency.

Through structured painting and drawing sessions, we provided a safe space for youth to express their feelings, identify their needs and current challenges, strategize ways to address those needs, and assess how participation in current programs at Casa San Jose could support them. Finally, we asked them to share their dreams for the future and what programs that supported their thriving would look like. Here is what we found:

• Youth emphasized the importance of organized out-of-school programs as havens where they could voice their ideas freely, feel a sense of belonging, and find protection from negative experiences.
• Many youth expressed a need for a place where they wouldn’t be judged or alienated, particularly amidst fears of discrimination, physical assault, and deportation.
• Youth learned coping skills, fostered their strengths, and developed strategies to address challenges.

Other youth highlighted the importance of emotional safety and attunement in the program. One youth shared that “the program helps me by painting how I feel about stuff and makes it feel better, instead of keeping it all a secret.” Another recounted how program leaders provided crucial support during times of fear, ensuring safety and reassurance during uncertain times.The experiences of these children and youth remind us that the various ecosystems, contexts, relationships, and spaces we inhabit matter, and that by bringing together our strengths and skills, we can challenge each other to thrive. Intentional programs that provide a space for children and youth can be transformative, enriching lives and positively influencing outcomes for young people. As I continue my exploration of Positive Youth Development (PYD) principles, I encourage everyone reading to identify at least one opportunity to integrate these principles into your practices and systems. By embedding PYD into every system serving young people, we can work towards ensuring positive outcomes for all youth.

Sincerely,
Tracy