Addressing Access and Equity for Latine Youth through Sport-Based Positive Youth Development

Abstract

Abstract Organized out-of-school time (OST) activities are critical assets that help youth develop life and social skills. Latine youth have some of the lowest rates of participation in OST activities out of all racial and ethnic subgroups due to structural and interpersonal barriers that perpetuate and reproduce patterns of inequality. The purpose of the current study was to describe a youth-led, community-driven, sport-based positive youth development program, the Los Angeles Football Club Youth Leadership Program, and examine associations with participation across three levels: (1) alumni’s enrollment and employment outcomes; (2) youth leaders’ outcomes (e.g., pre- and postprogram surveys); and (3) outputs of the program’s community outreach efforts (e.g., demographics and outputs associated with youth-led community-based activities). Drawing on the study’s findings, authors argue that this program describes an emergent “ladder to leadership” model that can guide community engagement through the delivery of culturally responsive programming and the use of sport to support social–emotional learning during OST. These findings contribute to an important discussion of how to leverage sport to address issues of access and equity during OST for Latine youth.