Title

Youth Diversity and Inclusion Project

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2022

Description

Implementing culturally responsive after school programming is critical to supporting positive development in marginalized youth. However, there is little available information on practical approaches to design culturally responsive after school activities in ethnically diverse Black and Brown communities. Using a mixed-methods research design, we constructed a literature review on cultural responsiveness in after school programming, designed, disseminated and analyzed a digital survey to Boys & Girls Club of Hartford (BGCH) parents to evaluate and gather feedback on the current cultural curriculum, and constructed a digital library of culturally responsive after school activities. Our review of the literature finds that caring relationships, belonging, student voice, critical consciousness and parent engagement are all key components of robust culturally responsive after school programs. Results from our survey indicate that while surveyed BGCH parents report generally positive attitudes towards the cultural curriculum, Hispanic History Month had the highest satisfaction rates and cultural accuracy had the lowest mean satisfaction score across all activities. This research has implications for the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford and other after school organizations that serve youth of marginalized cultural identities.

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