Project History

Our journey began in 2020, when our team set out to understand the root causes of youth violence in Lansing. We launched a pilot study, which involved interviewing youth service providers in frontline neighbourhoods to gain insight into what drives violence in the area and what resources are available to mitigate it. In parallel, we interviewed young people aged 14 to 19 to learn about their personal experiences with community violence.  To share our findings with the local community, we hosted two events at The Fledge, where we presented our insights and engaged in open discussions with residents. These early efforts were pivotal in securing funding from the National Science Foundation, allowing us to expand our research.  Looking ahead, the next phase of our research will begin in January 2025, where we will focus on interviewing young adults aged 18 to 24 who reside in or regularly visit frontline neighbourhoods. Our goal is to deepen our understanding of how young people navigate incidents of community violence and how their neighbourhood environment influences their experiences.  Throughout our work, we are guided by a Community Advisory Board, which helps ensure that our research is aligned with the needs and priorities of the local community. We continue to collaborate with The Fledge to stay connected to those we serve and ensure our work remains responsive and impactful.