Institute for the Study of Societal Issues

A growing body of literature suggests that the neighborhoods that young people live in have a substantial influence on their lives. As part of this work, researchers have begun to investigate the relationship between young people and local neighborhood institutions such as schools, libraries, grocery stores and youth centers. Engagement with these local institutions has been observed to strengthen youth well-being. Often, this area of research relies on the perspectives of adults and neglects youth experience. This is problematic, given that young people have a great deal of choice and autonomy when selecting neighborhood institutions to engage. Thus, this phenomenological qualitative pilot study highlights youth voice and lived experiences to explore which neighborhood institutions are important to young people and begins to unpack the ways institutional engagement influences well-being. I conducted semi-structured interviews with ten young people between the ages of 14 and 20 who live in East Oakland, California. The findings from this project provide: (1) a descriptive understanding of the different neighborhood institutions that are important to young people, and (2) youth perspectives on why they choose to engage neighborhood institutions. I find that youth-serving organizations, in addition to schools and churches, provide important opportunities for young people to develop both community and individual well-being. Young people say that these institutions strengthen their connectedness to strong social networks, increase positive future outlooks, and provide safe spaces that support a wide variety of interests - including college and career preparation, sports, and arts and crafts. These findings will help practitioners and researchers develop a deeper understanding of the vital role space, place, and institutions play in the lives of youth.