Students of Color Say These 6 Things Impact Their Health and Wellness

This youth-led health assessment was designed to tap into young people’s perspectives by engaging them not only as partners, but as leaders in community health research and assessment.

1. Young people are under stress. In all five cities, respondents described employment concerns, race relations, violence, lack of community resources, and other environmental challenges as meaningful barriers to their well-being.
2. Young people feel unsafe. In all five cities, the police served as an additional stressor for young people of color—despite respondents’ concerns about community violence.
3. Young people mistrust and fear the police. In all five cities, the police served as an additional stressor for young people of color—despite respondents’ concerns about community violence.
4. Young people observe and suffer from a lack of access to community resources. Gentrification, local food options, and unemployment concerned respondents across the five cities.
5. Young people cite stereotyping and racial bias as reasons they feel unsafe and unwelcome.
6. Young people engage in risky behaviors to cope with stress. In Philadelphia and Chicago, the majority of respondents believe young people are impacted by family members who use drugs.