Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development rooted in social justice principles. YPAR developed from Participatory Action Research (PAR), an approach and epistemology that involves the people most affected by a particular issue in conducting research and analysis in order to develop solutions to bring about social, cultural, and/or political transformation.
YPAR offers young people training and support to conduct and lead systemic research to improve their lives, their communities, and the institutions intended to serve them. This process honors relationships and builds community trust by establishing mutual reciprocity and respect between researchers and the community.
The Youthprise Action Research Team is building a statewide network of YPAR practitioners through funding research projects in Minnesota and providing technical assistance.
The last YPAR deadline has passed. Stay connected for news of upcoming deadlines.
23 organizations applied in order to develop teams of youth researchers to conduct youth-led research; research designed to create viable youth informed solutions to current community issues. We want to thank all the applicants for your time and commitment to youth-led research.
Our 2018-2019 YPAR Grantees:
YPAR teams are developed, sponsored, housed, and facilitated over a 12-month project period by applicant organizations. Organizations best suited to sponsor YPAR teams are those that model positive youth development and value youth voice, youth leadership, and youth action. YPAR teams receive training and technical assistance; however, applicant organizations must be able to dedicate a facilitator with some familiarity with research, evaluation, or organizing.
YPAR teams produce research focused on social action that is informed by local community input, therefore applicant organizations must be familiar with and comfortable with engaging communities connected with their YPAR youth. Supporting this youth-led community engagement approach toward research is critical to developing leadership and technical skills as well as building the capacity of young people to be change-makers.
Eligible applicants include educational institutions, 501(c)(3) youth-focused organizations, and 501(c)(3) community, social justice, and research organizations that have a focus on issues that affect youth. Organizations described above with fiscal sponsors are also eligible to apply. Organizations must be located in Minnesota and commit to the following:
A two-stage review process is used to award YPAR grants. The first stage consists of an evaluation of grant applications by community reviewers primarily comprised of young people. The second stage consists of in-person interviews with Youthprise staff and young people. Recommendations from the review process are then made to the Youthprise Board of Directors for final approval.
The selection process includes the following:
Out of School Time
Disability Justice
Creating Alternatives to Youth Incarceration
Addressing/Healing Trauma
Increasing Accessibility
Addressing Mental Health Needs
Improving Water and Food Access
Youth-Centered Learning
Youth-Centered Learning
Stabilizing Housing / Ending Homelessness
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