The Team
In 2023, the YPAR Phase One team partnered with Opportunity Youth in Memphis to evaluate how young adults connect to support services, educational programs, and employment, as well as how young adults complete programs and find work. Young adult researchers collaborated with nonprofit partners, including the Shelby County Youth and Education subcommittee, Beyond Education Foundation, RESPECT the Haven, Code for America, and The Collective Blueprint, engaging over 100 other young adults and 250 community members through focus groups, interviews, and community dialogue.
During YPAR Phase Two, the team expanded on recommendations from the Phase One team by developing website content, translating research findings into practical tools, coordinating multi-stakeholder reviews, and engaging young adults to ensure this playbook reflects young adults' needs and experiences. We were excited to share the results of what is possible when young adults, nonprofits, and governmental partners work together to strengthen pathways to economic mobility for young adults in Memphis.
See a list of our contributors below.
August 21, 2003 - November 30, 2023
In dedication to
Nicholas Dean Bass
Our work is dedicated to the memory of our friend and fellow researcher, Nicholas Bess. “You gotta smile sometime, so why not now".
A reflection from the team
Trying to explain what made Nicholas Bess so special is challenging. Words cannot adequately describe the way Nick lit up a room from the moment he entered. He and his friend (and fellow researcher) Dianna were part of the first group of young adults in Shelby County to hear about this project. They met with us, the team from Code for America, in May of last year as part of our work with the City of Memphis Opportunity R3 workforce development program. Nick and Dianna both did things that day that stuck with us and made us want them to be part of this project. In Nick’s case, he listened to us explain how community researchers can have conversations and ask questions that we, as outsiders, can’t.
He thought for a moment and then asked us, “So basically, research is just asking questions and really listening to people?”
“Yes” we said. Nick smiled that smile of his and said, “Well shoot—then I do research all the time, while I cut people’s hair. And yes, you can’t go into Frayser and just ask That answer told us that this project could be successful and that young adults would get what we were hoping to do. And the spirit of that answer is the spirit Nick brought with him everywhere. When the energy would get low at the end of a session, Nick would jump up and get things going again. It became a tradition for him to wrap group meetings up for the team. He’d motivate us for the work ahead and would always remind us to smile.
YPAR PHASE 1: 2023
Participatory Research Launch & Findings
Researchers
Mya Barnes
Jerissa Bowers
Tanyya Briscoe
Caillou Cobbins
Mikyiah Lane
Jessica Langston
Dianna McCrary
Nadia Powell
Jamantae Wainwright
Local Research Coordinators
Keauna Cheers & Team Wright
Beyond Educating Foundation
Ayo McKinney & Jodi Reynhout
The Collective Blueprint
Jason Sharif
RESPECT the Haven
Clara Asumadu, Matt Bernius, Marianne Anthonette Miranda, Hashim Mteuzi, Auriel Rolle-Polk, Mellina Stoney, & Josh Webster
Code for America
YPAR PHASE 2: 2026
Playbook Development & Website Launch
Researchers
Jessica Langston
Nadia Powell
Editors and Event Speakers
Justice Franklin
Taylor Wright
James Chambers
Ryan Whitfeild
Brittany Bryd, The Collective Blueprint
Shyanna Brown, The Collective Blueprint
Seria Ross, The Collective Blueprint
Website Developers
Content Manager and Designer
Amareé Austin, The Collective Blueprint
Content Support
Matt Bernius
Website Designer
Clara Asumadu, Aya Damé
We would like to offer a special thank you to all of the Shelby County Youth and Education Subcommittee members who contributed their feedback, insight, and support throughout both phases of the youth participatory action research.