Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions for young people across the U.S., exacerbating feelings of isolation and disconnection. In response, the [Youth] Think Tank—a paid Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) internship—was launched in [city name]. Teens from diverse backgrounds came together to address the issues they and their peers were facing. This article chronicles the journey of the [Youth] Think Tank through each phase of its YPAR project, following the design process step-by-step as the group developed The [Hub]: a youth-designed space that fosters connection, safety, and belonging within the community. Starting from the program's inception, we trace how the teens identified their peers' needs, envisioned an inclusive community space, and translated those ideas into actionable designs. This article also explores the integration of Speculative YPAR, a creative approach that empowered teens to imagine futures unconstrained by current limitations and to envision a space that could serve their community. By blending research, imagination, and practical action, the [Youth] Think Tank redefined community engagement and demonstrated the power of youth-led projects in reshaping post-pandemic futures. This chronological account of the project's design phases offers a unique insight into how young people can transform their communities when given the freedom to lead.
Author Biography
Dr. Allison JoAnn Lester
Dr. Allison JoAnn Lester is an assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University, specializing in building school-university-community partnerships to address real-world challenges, integrating culturally responsive pedagogy and ethical AI to co-create inclusive, transformative, and learner-centered experiences. She was the director of the Teen Think Tank, a youth-driven initiative in Cincinnati, OH that empowered young people to engage in community-based research, critical problem-solving, and innovative design. Through partnerships with local organizations, students identified pressing social issues, collected and analyzed data, and developed actionable solutions to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Eden Kadosh
Eden Kadosh is an undergraduate student at Ohio University studying Integrated Language Arts Education and is an active member of the Delta Zeta sorority. During her junior and senior years of high school, Eden was a Teen Think Tank intern where she worked to amplify youth voices through action research. She is passionate about advocating for others, exploring the world, and experiencing new cultures.
Atlas Suarez
Atlas Suarez is a junior at the University of Cincinnati, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with certificates in Minority Health, Pre-Art Therapy, and Spanish Social Work. He formerly worked as a Teen Think Tank intern during his junior and senior year of high school, where he worked alongside other teens to come up with innovative solutions and community outreach for teens in and around the community. Passionate about mental health and advocacy, he aspires to work in patient care as a psychologist, focusing on making mental health care more accessible and inclusive in underrepresented communities.
Abigail Rubinstein
Abigail Rubinstein is an upcoming student at the University of Cincinnati studying journalism and business. She is passionate about journalistic writing, winning a Jewish Scholastic Journalism award. She was a former Teen Think Tank intern from her sophomore to senior year of high school, where she worked with young people to design solutions to community challenges.
Recommended Citation
Lester, A.,
Kadosh, E.,
Suarez, A.,
&
Rubinstein, A.
(2025).
Transforming Futures Through Speculative YPAR: The Garage Story.
Occasional Paper Series,
(53).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58295/2375-3668.1549
Included in
Art and Design Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons
