Abstract
Civic engagement can help adolescents recognize, evaluate, and act to challenge injustice, oppression, and institutionalized racism. However, systemic oppression that silences minoritized youth voice and activism can thwart civic engagement, disrupting positive youth development pathways. Building from a larger community-based participatory research study using qualitative, youth-led focus group methods, we prioritize youth voice to explore change strategies Latinx youth ages 14–18 in Houston and Denver identify as beneficial to challenging barriers to civic engagement and supporting their civic empowerment. Analyses yielded specific Latinx youth-identified strategies and foundational principles responding directly to barriers and oppressive systems within distinct ecological contexts in youth’s lives. Findings inform tailored efforts to support Latinx youth in pursuing civic action and challenging oppressive systems
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