Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Byron K. Hargrove, PhD
Second Supervisor
Augustina West, EdD
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative narrative case study was to explore how eight recent Black male high school graduates perceived the impact of their participation in a 6-week youth development organization based in a Midwestern U.S. city between 2019 and 2024. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and the review of program documents, including handbooks, logic models, and annual reports. The data were analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive coding methods guided by the positive youth development framework.
Five key themes emerged: mentorship and professionalism, confidence and public voice, time management and discipline, navigating societal barriers, and visions for community contribution. The findings affirm that the researched youth development organization fostered the five Cs of positive youth development: competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring, which collectively contributed to the sixth C, contribution, as participants expressed a desire to give back to their communities. The study concludes that youth development programs play a transformative role in shaping postsecondary readiness, building resilience, promoting academic growth, and cultivating the life skills essential for leadership among Black male youth. Recommendations include sustained investment in culturally responsive youth programming and future longitudinal studies examining the long-term impact of youth development participation.
Recommended Citation
Means, Christopher J., "A Narrative Case Study Exploration of the Impact of a Youth Development Program on Black Male High School Graduates" (2025). Education Doctoral. Paper 634.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/634
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.