Unit 4 Students Present Research Findings at University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center
YES Program Collaboration with University of Illinois Showcases Student-Led Research on Community Issues
(August 1, 2025) CHAMPAIGN— On July 31st, Unit 4 Youth Employment Services (YES) Program students celebrated the successful completion of an eight-week Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project at the University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center. The collaboration between Unit 4, the City of Champaign, and the University of Illinois provided students with invaluable career readiness skills and real-world research experience.
Seven Unit 4 students from Central and Centennial High Schools participated in the intensive summer research program: Maxxen Wolf (Central), Na'Zarah Walker (Centennial), Xiyerah Johnson (Central), Loic Nsingi (Centennial), Kiera Deans (Central), Serenity Cobb (Centennial), and Aline Nkaka (Centennial-not pictured). The students conducted comprehensive research on toxic masculinity and its effects on youth, guided by two primary research questions: Where and who perpetuates toxic masculinity? And how can we address toxic masculinity in our community?
YPAR is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development in which young people are trained to conduct systematic research to improve their lives, communities, and the institutions intended to serve them. Through this methodology, students learned proper research protocols while investigating issues directly affecting their peer group.
The partnership began in February when YES Program Supervisor, Mandy Danowitz, met with Jacinda Dariotis, Director of the Family Resiliency Center, and Nathaniel Underland, Associate Director, at a City of Champaign Coalition meeting. The Family Resiliency Center is a transdisciplinary research and policy center that addresses grand societal challenges associated with food and family. At the start of 2000, the vision of Illinois alumna Doris Kelley Christopher and the Family Resiliency Program was to advocate for families by fostering resiliency within them, to find solutions to family problems.
The collaboration was facilitated through the University of Illinois Summer Youth Employment Program, directed by Tori Exum, Director of Human Resources, which provides students with paid summer internships across various university departments.
Over the eight-week program, students conducted interviews, collected and analyzed data, and developed comprehensive findings. Their research revealed that increased local education about toxic masculinity would benefit the community. Students created innovative strategies to educate the community using social media platforms and developed short animations focused on empowering teen voices.
The research project brought together students from both Central and Centennial High Schools who initially didn't know each other well. By the program's conclusion, they had formed strong bonds and unanimously described the experience as incredibly rewarding.
The collaboration exemplifies the power of community partnerships in providing meaningful educational opportunities for students. As Blueprint Partners with the City of Champaign, both Unit 4 and the University of Illinois are committed to creating pathways for student success and community engagement.
About Unit 4 Youth Employment Services (YES) Program: The YES Program connects Unit 4 students with local employers to provide summer jobs and internship opportunities while developing career readiness skills. https://www.champaignschools.org/page/youth-employment-services
About the University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center: For over 20 years, FRC has been developing and distributing resources for free to benefit youth, adults, families, and communities. The center focuses on translating research into practical information for policymakers, providers, and families. https://www.familyresiliency.illinois.edu/research
