1. Presented By: Jasmine Abrams Summer Undergraduate Research Program University of Virginia

2.  Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP)  YWLP participants interact with girls and mentors from varied ethnic backgrounds.  Ethnic identity serves as a protective factor for youth (Pugh & Bry, 2007; Brook & Pahl, 2005).  However, little research has examined whether programs can indirectly influence ethnic identity.

3. This presentation explores whether interactions that occur within the program influences the ethnic identity of YWLP participants.

4.  1) Do YWLP participants report greater ethnic identity from pre-to post-program than a randomized control group?  2) For girls who do make positive change, what program practices and interactions were concurrent with that change?

5. Young Women Leaders Program Mixed Methods  Quantitative Sample: n=105 middle school girls  Qualitative Sample: n= 23 (12 middle school girls and 11 college women)  The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM; Phinney, 1992) was administered in the fall and spring to program participants and a control group.  Based on positive changes in MEIM scores, a mentoring group was selected for qualitative analyses.

6.  Research Q1 was addressed using an ANCOVA.  Ethnic identity of YWLP participants (N= 62) (M= 2.706) was significantly lower than the control group (N= 43, M= 2.974, F (1,102) = 5.245, p =.024) at post-test when controlling for pre-test scores.

7. Racial Demographics

8. Connection Disconnection Structure Themes

9.  YWLP participants’ ethnic identity was significantly lower compared to a randomized control group.  However, an increase in ethnic identity was found in a number of participants.  Limitations  Future research ◦ Why ethnic identity was lower for YWLP Participants than control group ◦ If MEIM scores vary by race ◦ Compare positive change group dynamics to negative change group dynamics

10. Brook, J. S., & Pahl, K. (2005). The protective role of ethnic and racial identity and aspects of an africentric orientation against drug use among African American young adults. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 166(3), 329-345. Lawrence E. C., Levy, M., Martin, N., & Strother-Taylor, J. (2008). One-on- one and group mentoring: An integrated approach. www.edmentoring.org/pubs/ywlp_study.pdf Phinney, J. (1992). The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure: A new scale for use with diverse groups. Journal of Adolescent Research, 7,156–176. Pugh, L. A., & Bry, B. H. (2007). The protective effects for ethnic identity for alcohol and marijuana use among Black young adults. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 13(2), 187-193. www.city-data.com/school/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX.html (In order to protect the identity of this school, this website cannot be identified)

11.  SURP Coodinators ◦ Jen Mashburn ◦ Stanley Trent, Ph.D. ◦ Carl “Llaves” Keys ◦ Camille Lawrence ◦ Howard Crumpton  Nancy Deutsch, Ph.D.  Angela Henneberger  Lauren Germain  Afi Wiggins