Black girls are regularly exposed to physical, emotional, and psychological violence in various contexts. However, in the face of these assaults on their personhood, Black girls seek and carve out spaces that honor their need to thrive and feel psychologically safe. This presentation will highlight qualitative data from Black adolescent girls who participated in the Black Girl Magic Crew (BGM), an afterschool program created for and by Black girls focused on their identity development, mental health, and literacy. The presentation will conclude by identifying implications and future directions that can shape future equity-oriented science. Taken together, this work will demonstrate the possibilities of community-research partnerships to engage in action-oriented research that incorporates youth voice.

Misha Inniss-Thompson is an assistant research professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University. Dr. Inniss-Thompson received her doctorate in community research and action at Vanderbilt University. She is an alumnus of Cornell’s Department of Human Development. During her undergraduate career, she was a Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Scholar.

BCTR Talks at Twelve