DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/YM8E-R822
Defense Date
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Art Education
Department
Art Education
First Advisor
Melanie Buffington, PhD
Second Advisor
Elizabeth Cramer, PhD
Third Advisor
Sarah Cunningham, PhD
Abstract
This study constructs themes and propositions about the experiences of youth participants in the fall 2013 Food Landscapes program at the Neighborhood Resource Center in Richmond, Virginia. During the program, youth participated in cooking-based volunteerism with adults with disabilities and created short videos about their experiences. In this study, I analyzed pre- and post-program participant interviews, twice-weekly program observations, and facilitator reflections to understand how Food Landscapes affected youths’ conception of community engagement and communication strategies. This case study offers insight into how youth experience after-school programming of this design. Based on my findings, youth develop and rely upon a sense of togetherness in out-of-school programs. Togetherness as a bridge to commitment strengthens participation. Individually, youth need to form personal connections to and/or empathy with the content areas of the program in order to derive meaning, critically reflect, and problem solve. Furthermore, the youth articulated their perceptions of the community and the program by developing, organizing, and voicing their ideas of cooking/food, volunteering, and art making. By sharing research about the experiences of youth in after-school programming, organizations and educators can better construct, facilitate, and sustain youth participation and engagement.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
10-28-2014
Included in
Art Education Commons, Art Practice Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Photography Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Regional Sociology Commons, Service Learning Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, Social Work Commons, Special Education and Teaching Commons