“This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence
Abstract Introduction Despite urgent need for evidence-based violence prevention solutions, demonstrating the impact of community-based violence prevention programs, which are primed to be culturally relevant and community-tailored, remains difficult. Thus, our community-academic research team, cond...
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2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23145-w |
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| author | Hillary M. Kapa Stephanie M. Garcia Christopher Thornton Matthew Kerr Carolena Muno Xadyah Holness Aquil Shakur Rachel K. Myers |
| author_facet | Hillary M. Kapa Stephanie M. Garcia Christopher Thornton Matthew Kerr Carolena Muno Xadyah Holness Aquil Shakur Rachel K. Myers |
| author_sort | Hillary M. Kapa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Despite urgent need for evidence-based violence prevention solutions, demonstrating the impact of community-based violence prevention programs, which are primed to be culturally relevant and community-tailored, remains difficult. Thus, our community-academic research team, conducted a participatory evaluation to identify proximal outcomes of Beyond the Bars (BTB), an urban United States-based music enrichment program seeking to empower young people and facilitate community healing from cycles of disinvestment and violence. Methods We explored perceived BTB outcomes on student participants through semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 adolescent students (M age=17.31 years, 69% male), 4 adult instructors (75% male), and 6 adult community partners (50% male). We coded interview transcripts and then iteratively analyzed relevant coded text to identify salient themes within and across interest holder groups. Results Interviewees identified similar programmatic impacts on students, which we consolidated into five themes: (1) access to safe, creative spaces (2), musical and technical skill development (3), personal growth (4), relational and interpersonal growth, and (5) growth mindset and future orientation. They described outcomes as progressive, with students’ gaining musical, social, and creative skills and access to a safe and supportive community being foundational to enhancements in self-efficacy and future orientation and budding efforts to advocate within their communities. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate integration of strengths-based approaches in youth violence prevention programming to support holistic wellbeing beyond risk reduction. Further, our work underscores need to develop evidence for and elevate community-generated solutions to rebuild and heal communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ba036ab96c642be8c5e4e4d31ae867b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ba036ab96c642be8c5e4e4d31ae867b2025-08-20T03:16:56ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23145-w“This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violenceHillary M. Kapa0Stephanie M. Garcia1Christopher Thornton2Matthew Kerr3Carolena Muno4Xadyah Holness5Aquil Shakur6Rachel K. Myers7Center for Violence Prevention, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaCenter for Violence Prevention, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaBeyond the BarsBeyond the BarsCenter for Violence Prevention, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaBeyond the BarsBeyond the BarsCenter for Violence Prevention, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaAbstract Introduction Despite urgent need for evidence-based violence prevention solutions, demonstrating the impact of community-based violence prevention programs, which are primed to be culturally relevant and community-tailored, remains difficult. Thus, our community-academic research team, conducted a participatory evaluation to identify proximal outcomes of Beyond the Bars (BTB), an urban United States-based music enrichment program seeking to empower young people and facilitate community healing from cycles of disinvestment and violence. Methods We explored perceived BTB outcomes on student participants through semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 adolescent students (M age=17.31 years, 69% male), 4 adult instructors (75% male), and 6 adult community partners (50% male). We coded interview transcripts and then iteratively analyzed relevant coded text to identify salient themes within and across interest holder groups. Results Interviewees identified similar programmatic impacts on students, which we consolidated into five themes: (1) access to safe, creative spaces (2), musical and technical skill development (3), personal growth (4), relational and interpersonal growth, and (5) growth mindset and future orientation. They described outcomes as progressive, with students’ gaining musical, social, and creative skills and access to a safe and supportive community being foundational to enhancements in self-efficacy and future orientation and budding efforts to advocate within their communities. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate integration of strengths-based approaches in youth violence prevention programming to support holistic wellbeing beyond risk reduction. Further, our work underscores need to develop evidence for and elevate community-generated solutions to rebuild and heal communities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23145-wCommunity-Based participatory researchProgram evaluationAdolescentPrimary preventionMusicPositive psychology |
| spellingShingle | Hillary M. Kapa Stephanie M. Garcia Christopher Thornton Matthew Kerr Carolena Muno Xadyah Holness Aquil Shakur Rachel K. Myers “This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence BMC Public Health Community-Based participatory research Program evaluation Adolescent Primary prevention Music Positive psychology |
| title | “This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence |
| title_full | “This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence |
| title_fullStr | “This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence |
| title_full_unstemmed | “This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence |
| title_short | “This program is literally saving lives”: A participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community-based music program to interrupt violence |
| title_sort | this program is literally saving lives a participatory qualitative study of youth outcomes in a community based music program to interrupt violence |
| topic | Community-Based participatory research Program evaluation Adolescent Primary prevention Music Positive psychology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23145-w |
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