Creator: Stevo Watkins
Community Partner: Alton Middle School
Cohort Theme: Spatial Justice in Alton, IL
Faculty Mentor: Jessica DeSpain
Project History
Our team researched the causes and impacts of violent crime in Alton, Illinois, particularly among youth. Youth violence in Alton, Illinois, is shaped by a combination of historical, economic, and social factors that make the issue unique to the city. While similar challenges exist in other places, Alton’s particular circumstances highlight how local conditions can influence youth behavior and violence. After exploring a number of factors driving youth violence, including economic downturn, spatial injustice that has isolated particular neighborhoods, and a lack of youth programs, we developed an after-school program that would respond to some of these challenges. Our goal was to give youth in Alton the opportunity and a safe place to voice any violence they may have experienced. Over the course of a semester, our team worked with twelve justice-impacted middle school students. Using digital storytelling along with a variety of media and skills including web design, podcasting, oral history collection, video production, and digital visualization, the middle school students created their own digital stories.
Finding Your Place
My research with violence-impacted youth in Alton, Illinois, has served as a catalyst for personal growth and professional inspiration. Working closely with the Alton communities has shaped my perspective on the challenges they face, from systemic injustices to educational inequities, and reaffirmed my goal of utilizing my Mass Communications degree to uplift underserved populations. The primary audience for this presentation includes youth instructors, teachers, counselors, and mentors affiliated with youth-based organizations, working directly with teenagers aged 12-19 and older youth ages 17-23 receiving onsite services.