Youth of Color Matter (2015)

The 5th annual Youth-Nex Conference, 'Youth Of Color Matter: Reducing Inequalities through Positive Youth Development' (#YoCM15), will provide a space for leaders across the country to investigate critical questions, dispel myths, and highlight youth of color as thriving contributors to their communities.

The United States is growing richer in racial and ethnic diversity, especially among our youth. Yet, amidst these profound changes, gross disparities persist in opportunities and outcomes, and many youth of color continue to be viewed through narrow lenses that reinforce negative stereotypes. How can we, as youth advocates, teens, educators, parents, researchers, and policymakers, use what we know about positive youth development to generate meaningful, measurable, widespread, and sustainable strategies for addressing inequalities?

Youth-Nex held its 5th annual conference, “Youth of Color Matter: Reducing Inequalities Through Positive Youth Development," on October 8-9, 2015. Amid national attention on the inequalities facing ethnic minority youth in the U.S., the center convened top scholars, policy makers, educators, and teenagers to the invitation-only conference. The event sparked welcome dissonance and lively conversation over the two days.

Conference Chair: Joanna Lee Williams, Ph.D.

Download the program and speaker biographies (PDF).

Read what conference attendees submitted as actionable steps to take after the conference!

Resources Page - Links to resources mentioned at the conference including videos that were shown.

Videos

  • Opening Remarks

    Robert Pianta, Dean, Curry School of Education; Patrick Tolan, Youth-Nex Director; Joanna Williams, Conference Chair; Archie Holmes; DeVante Cunningham

  • Culturally-Grounded Approaches to PYD

    Panel 1, Panelist 1: Noni K. Gaylord-Harden, Ph.D.

  • Culturally-Grounded Approaches to PYD

    Panel 1, Panelist 2: Monica Tsethlikai, Ph.D.

  • Culturally-Grounded Approaches to PYD

    Panel 1, Panelist 3: Noelle Hurd, Ph.D., MPH

  • Culturally-Grounded Approaches to PYD

    Panel 1: Q&A

  • An Immigrant Paradox? Civic Engagement

    Panel 2, Panelist 1: William Perez, Ph.D.

  • An Immigrant Paradox? Civic Engagement

    Panel 2, Panelist 2: Suzanne Pritzker, Ph.D.

  • An Immigrant Paradox? Civic Engagement

    Panel 2, Panelist 3: Gloria Rockhold, MA, M.Ed.

  • An Immigrant Paradox? Civic Engagement

    Panel 2: Q&A

  • Keynote Speaker

    Leon T. Andrews, Jr., Director, National League of Cities (NLC)

  • Community Initiatives Supporting Youth of Color

    Panel 3, Panelist 1: Sarad Davenport

  • Community Initiatives Supporting Youth of Color

    Panel 3, Panelist 2: Susana Martinez, LICSW

  • Community Initiatives Supporting Youth of Color

    Panel 3, Panelist 3: Wesley Bellamy

  • Community Initiatives Supporting Youth of Color

    Panel 3: Q&A

  • Youth of Color as Agents of Change

    Panel 4, Panelists 1 and 2: Melanie Gonzalez (High School Senior) and Manali Joshi (High School Junior)

  • Youth of Color as Agents of Change

    Panel 4, Panelists 3 and 4: Adilka Pimentel and Darian X

  • Youth of Color as Agents of Change

    Panel 4: Q&A

  • Restoring Justice In Our Schools

    Panel 5, Panelist 1: Anne Gregory, Ph.D.

  • Restoring Justice In Our Schools

    Panel 5, Panelist 2: Vickie Shoap

  • Restoring Justice In Our Schools

    Panel 5: Q&A

  • Promoting Educational Excellence for YoC

    Panel 6, All Panelists: L. Bernard Hairston, Curtis Chin, and David J. Johns

  • Promoting Educational Excellence for YoC

    Panel 6: Q&A

  • Call to Action

    Moderators: Patrick H. Tolan, and Joanna Williams

Photos

  • Joanna Lee Williams, Conference Chair
  • Leon T Andrews, Keynote Speaker

    Director, National League of Cities (NLC)

  • Diverse Perspectives

    Youth advocates, teens, educators, parents, researchers, and policymakers were invited to generate meaningful and sustainable strategies for addressing disparities

  • Youth Voices Included

    The conference turned to the real experts, civically and culturally-minded youth, such as Melanie Gonzalez and Manali Joshi

  • Several Thought-Provoking Panels

    The conference featured six panels in order to examine critical questions and reinforce narratives portraying youth of color as thriving contributors to their communities

  • Productive Discussions Ensued

    Audience members had the opportunity to engage with panelists throughout the conference.

Media Coverage

Read the articles written about our conference below:

On the left, check out the buzz generated on Twitter by the conference, using #YoCM15!

About Youth-Nex

Youth-Nex, The UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development, is a trans-disciplinary center that aims to expand and apply the science of positive youth development to address fundamental challenges facing societies around the world.