The purpose of the Winooski Youth-Adult Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Team is to focus on inclusion and restoration by utilizing various research methods in order to properly address oppressive relationship-building and repairing throughout the Winooski community. In addition, partnering with UP for Learning provides the team with beneficial experience and support by "holding the space", meaning to create and nurture an environment in which feelings of safety and belonging are prioritized. Through focus groups, surveys, peer-to-peer advisories, community dialogues, school faculty and staff collaboration, and more, the YPAR team intends to inform the community and mobilize social actors across race, class, gender, ability, etc. to dismantle systems of oppression with the ultimate goal of igniting individual, community and systems level of change.
To learn more about YPAR, watch this video produced by Pa'lante - a youth-led organization in Holyoke, MA leading their community in change centered on inclusion and justice: