Growing Up in Cities in the United States Study
As part of the international Growing Up in Cities initiative (Wave 3), this project examines the experiences of contemporary youth growing up in cities in the US. This project was co-led with colleagues at UC-Davis and the University of Maryland
2020-2025
What are we trying to do or learn?
This multi-city, mixed method study looks at what it is like for youth who are growing up right now in US cities. The study examined youth and their city and community environments from multiple scales including the opportunities and risks posed by their community environments, how youth perceive and use their environments, and whether their community environments support positive youth development.
Where and with whom?
The GUIC-US team worked with 4 cities in the first cohort pursuing Child-Friendly City status from UNICEF USA: San Francisco, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Houston, TX; Prince George County, MA. Portions of the study were also conducted with youth in Ithaca, NY. We targeted young people age 12-18 years old.
Approach & Methods Used
The initial phase involved GIS mapping of youth health risks in study cities in relation to neighborhood social and environmental characteristics. A second phase engaged youth in a comprehensive online mapping survey to share their perceptions of and activities in their communities and the degree to which they are youth-friendly. A final phase involved working direclty with youth (in collaboration with youth-serving organizations) in one or more deprived neighborhoods in each study city, using Photovoice, youth-led neighborhood tours and other methods to learn directly what it is like to grow up in that community and what youth would like to see changed or improved to better support their needs and interests. Where possible, youth were supported to develop action plans to communicate these needs and/or aim to affect change in their communities.
Findings & Publications
Loebach, J., Rahai, R.*, Natekal, A., Parker, C.*, Kweon, B-S., & Owens, P. (under review). Examining relationships between green space provision, youth health risks and neighborhood disadvantage. Health & Place. Link to Preprint
Parker, C.*, Kweon, B-S., Loebach, J., Park, B.* & Owens, P.E. (under review). Growing up in urban America: Youth in public spaces. In Beza, B. & Kreutz, A. (Ed.), Growing Up In Cities of the Twenty-First Century: A Global Study with Young People and Their Urban Environment (forthcoming). New York, NY: Routledge.
Loebach, J., Jaffe, J., Park, B., Kweon, B-S, Rahai, R., Owens, P.E., Parker, C. (2025, May 27-30). Youth-friendly neighborhoods? Examining community-level environmental support for youth development and preferences using online mapping surveys. Environmental Design Research Association Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Additional papers forthcoming