Youth Participatory Action Research
Photovoice Project

Under the Sky's Sunset
Under the sky's sunset鈥
Waits an obstacle to be crossed鈥
For sentience to reach its peaks
Finding my Niche

Flatiron View
Everyday on campus I get reminded of the privilege it is to be here. The view of the flatirons doesn鈥檛 let me forget it.

The View
The photo was taken when my friend and I flew over 麻豆影院 Campus. During this flight, I was given perspective on how small everything looks from high above and I related this view to how my problems should look. I shouldn鈥檛 allow my big problems to overwhelm me. Instead I should soar and make the problem a smaller one that is easy to deal with.

Rose in the Frozen Concrete
My life has never been easy, but somehow I grew through the cold concrete. Every day I fight to stay warm in the cold. Every day I protect my petals from dying and wilting away. Somehow I created a space for my flower to live through the lonely cold days. Every time I go through the motions of life, I'm securing the chance for my flower to grow another day.鈥

A Place I Visit Often
My favorite place on campus has to be the rec, it the only place I actually throughly enjoy interacting with other people.

Detachment From College
Whenever I take a seating in any place. There are times people actively avoid sitting around/net me. Until forced to sit. Where there鈥檚 also gazes of "why are you here?"

Moving Up

Away
This is the entrance to a trail behind the rec center that goes down to the creek. I first was shown this area during a program named Aquetza by a mentor. Since then, I鈥檝e gone down this trail many times when existing on campus gets too heavy. It's a spot where I can watch the ducks play in the water and make space for myself.

Safety
To me, this picture symbolizes safety and comfort. As a Muslim, I pray 5 times a day. Being a full-time student makes it a little harder for me to practice this throughout my day. However, after discovering a space in Norlin called the 鈥渕indfulness room鈥, it started to become the place where I pray in between classes. It is very rare for me to see Muslims around campus, however during prayer time, this room is filled with people who not only come from similar backgrounds as me but also share the same values.
Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
Ongoing Research: Photovoice is a qualitative research method employed in community-based participatory research for the purpose of reflecting the lived reality and concerns of a community, sparking critical dialogue for actionable change, and reaching policymakers and stakeholders who hold institutional power. In 2023, Over the course of two weeks, a group of 15 undergraduate students of color documented their experiences navigating a PWI, identified institutional barriers, and through group dialogue, proposed strategies for a more just campus. An exhibit and presentation of the culminating project titled:聽#NoFilter: Exploring the experiences of BIPOC Students at a PWI was shared with the CU 麻豆影院 campus community in April 2024.
Previous Projects: During the 2014-15 academic year, a team of five undergraduates, one doctoral student, and one faculty member explored聽issues of access, equity, and diversity on the CU-麻豆影院 campus. This research聽is now聽informing CU Engage's strategic planning and inclusive practices. Drawing on the principles and practices of participatory action research (PAR), our team聽a)聽documented community engagement perspectives and activities among students from under-represented groups; b)聽identified factors that serve聽either as barriers or invitations to greater involvement; and c) proposed聽strategies for CU Engage to implement in its first three years. You can聽read an article about our participatory聽research project, or download and聽read our聽report:聽"Students of Color Are Motivated Agents of Change: So Why Aren't We Joining Your Programs?"听聽CU Engage is committed to undertaking other PAR projects with undergraduate students in the future. If聽you鈥檇 like to get involved with PAR聽and/or propose a project, please email聽cuengage@colorado.edu.听