Opportunity for Unity collaborative: building healthy communities by empowering young adults

Abstract

No community is immune to the devastating effects of youth violence, although some are disproportionately affected— particularly 10 to 24 year old males of African-American and Hispanic descent. This study examines one community's effort to reduce youth violence by hiring influential young adults and coordinating the work of community-based organizations that address the underpinnings of community violence (e.g., domestic violence, substance abuse, environmental injustice). The grassroots collaborative project targeted young adults with and without criminal histories to work with these agencies for positive social change. Results demonstrate that those tarnished with criminal records demonstrated significant gains in social capital and sense of empowerment, thus creating the potential for reduced future criminal behavior and strengthened communities.

Keywords:

• empowerment
• social capital
• community violence prevention