Strengthening Children, Youth and Families

Youth of Color

Youth in high poverty communities face significant obstacles. Our work explores the depth of the disadvantaged youth problem in some of the nation's most challenged communities, with particular emphasis on youth of color. We highlight data on youth risk and outcomes in poor communities, elevate sound policy changes to benefit this population, and help communities to take advantage of opportunities at the federal and state level to expand and coordinate services.

Keeping youth on track and broadening their future opportunities requires flexible federal and state policies, adequate funding to meet immense need, and a community-wide approach to implementation that is attentive to the varied needs of a heterogeneous population. Young males of color, in particular, need targeted supports that are both robust and culturally relevant. Establishing a common goal for all youth and coordinating resources and systems to support all aspects of their development will put more young people on a path to solid education, meaningful careers, and eventual self-sufficiency. Being intentional about strategies to successfully reach and serve youth of color ensures that the system meets the needs of all youth in the community equitably.

In Focus

Education, Employment, and Health Outcomes for Black Boys and Young Men: Opportunities for Research and Advocacy Collaboration

By Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant

CLASP created the Partnership Circle for Boys and Young Men of Color to establish a venue for national policy organizations, advocacy groups, and researchers to discuss policy opportunities that may improve education, employment, and health outcomes for boys and young men (ages 12-24) of color.

Why is this work important?

One of the salient findings of the group's initial meeting in September 2012 was that research on black males should be used more effectively to influence policy change. To address this finding, CLASP and the Scholars Network on Black Masculinity (an assembly of scholars committed to reshaping scholarly and public understandings of the lives of African American men and exposing the cultural dimensions of the Black male experience) collaborated to host a joint working session on May 2-3, 2013. This meeting with members of both the Partnership Circle and the Scholars Network attracted 32 nationally recognized researchers and policy advocates, representing 25 institutions of higher education, research organizations, national membership organizations, national policy organizations, civil rights groups, and foundations interested in this issue.

The convening had three objectives:

To develop formal and meaningful relationships between researchers and national policy advocates
To connect research findings to national, state, and local policy discussions that support solutions to the dropout and employment crisis for middle school, high school, and out-of-school black males
To reach consensus and focus efforts on activities over the next two years that advance policy solutions for employment and dropout prevention and recovery for middle school, high school, and out-of-school black males