The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore stakeholders’ perspectives of two predominantly African American community youth choral organizations. My research questions included: (1) How do participants describe their experiences with the organization?, (2) What benefits and challenges do participants illuminate inside the organization and within the surrounding communities?, and (3) What future do participants envision for the organization within the surrounding communities? Systems thinking (Meadows, 2008; Stroh, 2015) and social systems perspective (Carter, 2011) shaped a conceptual lens that illuminated stakeholders’ perspectives. Each organization was selected because it was intrinsically interesting (Stake, 2005). Unlike many United States community youth choral organizations, these organizations provided academic support, meals, and door-to-door transportation for singers. Participant groups included staff, non-staff, and child singers. Data were collected over 18 weeks through observations of organizational events, including researcher written notes and transcribed voice memos, anonymous online questionnaires for adult participants, individual interviews with adult participants, and focus groups with child singers. Across both organizations, I collected 37 notes from observations, 17 anonymous questionnaires, 18 adult interviews, and nine focus groups with 21 child singers. I analyzed data through the constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1999), and verified the data analysis through triangulation between data forms and stakeholder groups (Stake, 2005), prolonged engagement and persistent observation (Lincoln & Guba, 1985), and peer coding. Findings from each case included a rich description of the organization, a narrative describing a child singer’s typical day, an analysis of how each domain of community music programs emerged, benefits and challenges identified within and across participant groups, and participants’ future visions for the organization. The final chapter comprises a cross-case analysis, focused on a comparison of the cases including overlapping themes and discussion. In the cross-case analysis, participants’ experiences were largely positive, accentuating how unique these organizations were to their communities. Participants shared how the organizations achieved dynamic equilibrium through evolving to meet stakeholders’ interests and needs. Participants described these organizations as socially engaging through building relationships, feeling like family, traveling with the organization, and meaningful summer camps. Challenges included connecting stakeholders across racial identities and funding. Because staff leaders engaged stakeholders from an assets-based approach, these organizations serve as models for choral organizations engaging with marginalized communities. By involving child singers, their families, and broader stakeholders in decision-making. choral leaders across the United States may improve organizational responsiveness. Additionally, engaging with stakeholders through assets-based philosophies honors the diverse and sometimes contradictory experiences of stakeholders, especially those from marginalized backgrounds and identities. Suggestions for future research included using Schippers and Bartleet’s (2013) framework to analyze additional music organizations, Bartleet’s (2023) framework to evaluate organizational progress toward desired social outcomes, and systems thinking to promote asset-based solutions for music programs and organizations. / Music Education

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Bexley Hall, Crozer Theological Seminary, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-85).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Bexley Hall, Crozer Theological Seminary, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-85).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Bexley Hall, Crozer Theological Seminary, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-85).

This study examined whether religiosity, parental and adult support coping would moderate the influence of neighborhood risks and friends' drug use upon drug refusal efficacy and drug use among African American adolescents. One hundred and thirteen African American urban adolescents (77 females and 36 males) aged 11-17 (M=14.17) participated in this study. This study used the God Support and Religious Support scales to assess religiosity; the parental support coping subscale of the Wills Coping measure; Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's Special Event Drug Refusal Efficacy and Friends' Drug use scales; the Exposure to Neighborhood Risk Scale; and a one-item measure of adult support coping from the Wills' Coping measure. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that religiosity moderated the effects of neighborhood risks upon tobacco and alcohol refusal efficacy. Higher levels of religiosity were associated with lower levels of marijuana use, higher levels of parent support coping, and higher levels of alcohol and tobacco refusal efficacy. These findings suggest that religiosity may protect against drug use risk factors and enhance drug refusal efficacy among African American adolescents. Implications of these findings are discussed.

This qualitative phenomenological study explores the role of Theatre as a tool of empowerment for Black youth. This study involves IMPACT Repertory Theatre of Harlem (IMPACT), a Theatre group that consists of Black youth between the ages of 12-19. Observations, focus-group interviews and audiovisual material were used to explore Black youth's experiences with and perceptions of Theatre via IMPACT. The existing literature surrounding the topic of Theatre for youth empowerment contains the following gaps: they do not give a voice to the youth in question, they are seldom conducted in the U.S. and they do not specifically focus on Black youth. Analysis included categorizing the data and then putting it into themes. In the study’s findings, participants reveal that Theatre via IMPACT offers a source of family like support, a safe space and opportunities for self discovery and transformation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2007. / Jacqueline Rouse, committee chair; Glenn T. Eskew, Vicki Crawford, Patricia Sullivan, committee chairs. Electronic text (195 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Nov. 9, 2007; title from file title page. Includes bibliographical references (p. 178-195).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Education. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-211). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11922

This study investigates the expressive youth movement hip hop, a predominately black male subculture defined through participation in the competitive activities of graffiti writing, rapping and breakdancing. The general objective is to determine what is being communicated through these expressive forms, to whom, how, and finally to suggest why it is being communicated. The extent to which the encoded messages are consistent with reports of the subculture's goals is then discussed. It is asserted that hip hop operates as an alternative identity management and problem-solving mechanism within the black American ghetto. Drawing on traditional aspects of black cultural identity and expressiveness, hip hop creates a distinct way of life, reflecting a constructive and optimistic philosophy, to challenge the existing roles of the street hustler and gang member. Developed in the inner city boroughs of New York City in the late 1960's and early 1970's, hip hop functioned as a non-violent means of projecting a self-image and of measuring self-worth. It continues to be used to confront fundamental issues in a fight to overcome the restrictions of ghetto living, providing an expression of both an aesthetic and a cultural style based on the pursuit of excellence. The focus of the study is a form and content analysis of a selection of recorded raps, which parallels an interpretation of the messages conveyed in the musical form with assertions made by insiders regarding the functioning of hip hop. The thesis explores the hip hop male persona and worldview, his social relations and his role in the community, as they are articulated in the raps. The results of this analysis are then applied to a discussion of hip hop graffiti and breakdancing symbolism. The study concludes that the three expressive forms are communicating the cultural agenda of its members as well as providing the means through which to achieve their goals. It is contended that within hip hop, members empower themselves through aggressive self-glorifying imagery and role-playing, and that they apply this sense of greatness to motivating their community, outlining a strategy for coping with their existence by re-energizing it and transforming it into a positive experience. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

Ego identity formation in African American college students was examined within the frameworks of Erikson’s psychosocial theory and Hill’s paradigm of Black family strengths. Ego identity was measured by the Revised Version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status, an instrument based on the theoretical constructs of Erikson. Family strengths were measured by the Family Environment Scale and the personality variables self-esteem and ethnic identity were measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, respectively. It was hypothesized that statistically significant relationships would be found between ego identity and the family environmental and personality variables. One hundred sixty-nine African American college students attending a predominantly White university participated in the study. The results supported a relationship between ego identity and family environmental and personality variables. The study further revealed that personality variables contribute more significantly than family environmental variables to identity achievement. Self-esteem was found to be a Significant predictor of ego identity and differentiated among the four ego identity statuses, Ethnic identity also proved to contribute significantly to the ego formation of African Americans. Of the family variables, religious-orientation, cohesion and organization were found to be significant predictors for some but not all of the ego statuses. Both father’s education and family income were Significant predictors of ego identity status, but age and sex were found to be nonsignificant in predicting ego identity. / Ph. D.