Seeds of change: A qualitative case study of a neighborhood youth program

Even within economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, programs fostering protective factors can shape youth outcomes. One positive youth development (PYD) program- Seeds of Change-employs teenagers in an urban neighborhood in Ohio and uses goats and community gardens to promote adolescent development. The current study used semi-structured interviews with adolescents (N  =  7, ages 16-20) to conduct a case study of the program. The case study describes youth's perceptions of the neighborhood, the program, and future directions; responses were analyzed using content analysis. Youth described that Seeds of Change enacts change on multiple levels of the social ecology by emphasizing individual growth, building a social support system with peers and adults, and increasing both tangible resources and positive relationships throughout the neighborhood. Seeds of Change promotes positive socialization, increases resources, and embodies multiple elements of effective PYD programming.