UC Berkeley

This dissertation explores the relationship between place and youth development, focusing on the challenges faced by youth of color living in low-income urban areas. It highlights the uneven distribution and limited access to essential resources and opportunities such as housing, healthcare, education, and employment, which contribute to developmental and health inequities among marginalized youth. I respond to three key challenges in the place-based literature: the poor conceptualization of place, lack of youth voice, and the need to problematize definitions of wellbeing in partnership with those most intimately impacted by social issues. In doing so I apply mixed methods through interviews, focus groups, and participatory GIS with East Oakland youth of color. In paper 1, I define East Oakland based on the definitions of youth who live there. I develop a holistic understanding of the location, locale, and sense of place that defines this geographic subset of the City of Oakland. In paper 2, I compare how youth of color experience school and youth-serving organizations in ways that bolster and hinder their subjective psychological wellbeing. In paper 3, I problematize the EPOCH conceptualization of wellbeing through focus groups with East Oakland youth. I find that assessing youth development based on psychological wellbeing is not sufficient to capture the challenges experienced by marginalized youth. This dissertation highlights the significance of adopting person-centered approaches to research. It challenges the perception of urban youth of color as passive actors and underscores their expertise, strength, and skills. By recognizing and empowering marginalized youth, societal stereotypes and oppressive practices can be challenged, enabling youth to play active roles as both recipients and providers of services and support in their own development.