Emily Martin UNCChapel Hill An Evaluation of the

Emily Martin UNC-Chapel Hill An Evaluation of the Effects of a Peer-led Club for Black Male High School Students

Research Question �What are the effects of a peer-led club for Black male students in a rural area high school in North Carolina? �Why is this an important Question? President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Initiative asks schools to be cognizant of the fact that Black male students in the United States have lower grade point averages (GPA) and are subject to more disciplinary referrals than their white counterparts Obama’s MBK task force argues that bottom-up community specific approaches may be more effective

Previous research indicates that… �students need to feel like they matter at school. Student-led clubs are a proven way to increase this sense of mattering (Wyatt, 2009; Zell, 2011). �participation in peer groups in college is positively associated with academic achievement and psychosocial well-being (Zell, 2011). But what about in high school? �Black male students are more likely to engage in extracurricular activities with members of their own demographic.

Data Collection �Involved: Evaluative questionnaire following a club meeting Club observation Unstructured interview with two club members

Results: Club Demographics � 18 participants, all male 15: Black, African-American 2: Bi-racial 1: No response � 13 live with a single parent or grandmother � 5 reported that neither parent received post- secondary education, 1/3 reported that at least one parent received a four-year degree � 17 of the 18 participants have goals of attending a 2 or 4 -year college or university

Major Themes �Club members were asked to write a brief paragraph about their experiences in the club, the following themes emerged…

Entering Manhood/Anxieties about the Future �One participant mentioned the link between talking about “real life situations” and how discussions like these provided a foundation through which they could “become men”. �“College made me depressed so [MBK] was a good outlet” to process those anxieties with peers in the same situation.

Positive Peer Influence and Leadership �A member mentions that the primary reason he is a part of MBK is to “help the younger ones out and help lead them in the right direction”. �“They see that they don’t want to get in trouble…they want to be a part [of MBK] and trouble isn’t attached to that. ” �Another participant mentions that achieving success for the younger students is “one of the best results you can get”.

Education through Guest Speakers �“We heard from people that taught us a lot of things” like “how to carry yourself” and “how to be smart with law enforcement. ” �Community guests spoke on college applications, career pathways, and held a question and answer session with current college students about their experiences in post-secondary education.

Communication �MBK is “not like the football team or any other club…it’s deeper than that”. �Other students mention that their favorite parts of the club include hearing other people “open up” and “learning about…other peoples’ problems”. �Despite not being able to use it on resumes after college, one member mentions that he will “keep it in [his] heart”.

So why is MBK so important? � Creates a safe and intentional space for students to process anxieties where they may otherwise have none. � Provides leadership opportunities both in the school and community. � Although this study did not measure academic success, research suggests that students who take part and find meaning in extracurricular school clubs are more likely to be successful students (Knifsend & Graham, 2012). � Exposure to college experiences and the college application process, especially beneficial for those whose parents did not attend college.

Research Limitations �Not generalizable, small sample size! �The potential for researcher bias. �Future research in this area should: consider measuring academic success, look deeper into discipline…but be careful not to suggest that a student club should be held responsible for the discipline of individuals!

Implications for Student Services �Use your data to determine whether or not this is a need at your school �Relatively inexpensive way to get your students involved and empowered �Think about other historically marginalized students and involve them in the development of a club aimed at ameliorating their circumstances—Black, Latin@, and female groups are a great place to start