Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Academy

Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of a broader Equity in Schools initiative

The Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Academy was a four-week summer program designed to equip New Orleans high school students with the tools to investigate injustice and organize for change in their schools and communities.

Funded through a $150,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the program brought together 20 BIPOC youth, ages 14–18, for a hands-on, justice-centered learning experience rooted in YPAR methodology.

Over the course of the summer, students participated in workshops, activities, and field experiences focused on:

• Understanding systems of oppression and racial equity
  
  

• Building research, organizing, and communication skills
  
  

• Mapping community strengths and challenges
  
  

• Developing strategies for youth-led change
  
  

As a core part of the program, students designed and carried out a youth-led inquiry into mental health experiences among BIPOC youth in New Orleans. They designed and distributed surveys, conducted peer interviews, and analyzed the data to better understand shared challenges and community needs.