Youth and Community Development
Mission
The Youth and Community Development Initiative is led by the Mason Task Force on Youth. The Task Force’s mission is to promote collaborative initiatives between the University and governments, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations, to develop, disseminate and apply knowledge of policies and practices that support the positive development of youth and their communities.
The Task Force is comprised of university members from a range of disciplines and community members representing different locales, organizations and perspectives. Members of the Task Force are committed to developing communities that work for youth and to preparing young people who will grow up to lead them. By partnering together we seek to create knowledge, practices, policies, capacities and leadership that will promote healthy youth and community development.
Director
Laurie Dopkins
Tel: 703-993-1428• E-mail:
Graduate Research Assistant
Jessica Hopson
E-mail:
University members:
Amy Best, Sociology and Anthropology
David Anderson, College of Education and Human Development
Hortensia Cadenas, Early Identification Program
Laurie Dopkins, Public and International Affairs
Mark Hopson, Communication
Patricia Masters, Sociology and Anthropology
Oliver Moles, Jr. , Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Dennis Ritchie, Social Work
Tony Samara, Sociology and Anthropology
Steven Vallas, Sociology and Anthropology
Emily Zimmerman, Sociology and Anthropology
Community members come from Fairfax and Loudoun County government agencies, the Northern Virginia Regional commission, and Barrios Unidos.
Events
"Loudoun County Youth Services Assessment" Brown Bag
Laurie Dopkins and David Anderson
Thursday, February 15, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Robinson B, SOAN conference room
"Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life " Talk and book signing
Annette Lareau
Wednesday, February 21, 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Johnson Center, 3rd floor, meeting room D
Sponsored by CSSR's Mason Task Force on Youth
Current Projects
"Loudoun County Youth Services Assessment"
Laurie Dopkins and David Anderson are conducting research funded by Loudoun County to gain a greater understanding of the nature and scope of issues surrounding youth in the county, as well as strategies and practices available throughout the state and nationwide. The study includes several key components: a needs assessment, key informant interviews, focus groups with youth, a telephone survey and community forums. Graduate student Melissa Adams is providing strategic support as a Graduate Research Assistant. For more information contact Laurie Dopkins. For more information about George Mason's work with the Loudoun Youth Initiative see the Washington Post Article: "Tuning In to the Needs, Challenges of Loudoun's Teens"
Download the Executive Summary.
Download the study findings: Loudoun Youth Study 2006: Report of Findings.
See pictures from the Loudoun Youth Step Up 2006
"Tracking Relocated Residents of the Pittsburgh Civic League Apartments"
This is a longitudinal study of residents relocated from a low-income housing project in Atlanta, GA in 2004. Laurie Dopkins is the Principal Investigator. Tiffany Yanosky is working as a graduate research assistant. The project is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
"Fairfax County Youth Worker Program Evaluation"
Laurie Dopkins and sociology graduate student Arlinda Louh are evaluating a program to use teen workers to draw youth into youth programs. For more information contact Laurie Dopkins. For more information on this program, see the Washington Post article: "Where peers are Part of the Attraction: Fairfax Centers Hire Teen Workers to Draw Youths In, Away from Violence."
"Perceptions of Gang Activity in Northern Virginia"
The Center for Social Science Research conducted a telephone survey of northern Virginia residents to measure community perceptions of gang violence in Fall 2005. This pilot project was a collaborative effort between faculty members in the department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Administration of Justice program. Graduate students studying survey research helped craft the questionnaire, supervise data collection and conduct interviews. Undergraduate research methods students also helped conduct interviews.
Download the working paper: Public Perceptions of Gang Activity in Northern Virginia: Results of a Pilot Study.
Recent Initiatives
"Capacity for Collecting and Using Data for Neighborhood Change"
Laurie Dopkins designed and implemented a capacity building plan to engage residents of a rapidly changing low-income neighborhood in Atlanta, GA in the process of using data for planning, evaluation, and policy making. The project was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Loudoun Step Up 2006
Ted Leonsis, AOL Vice Chairman
Loudoun Step Up 2006
Dr. David Anderson and Dr. Laurie Dopkins,
George Mason University
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