The Race and Youth Development Research (RaYDR) Group aims to generate and disseminate applied research and best practice interventions that promotes racial equity in outcomes among youth. This interdisciplinary team of researchers, educators, social workers, medical professionals, and psychologists has developed and conducted some of the nation’s premier work on African American youth development, particularly as it pertains to racial socialization, parent supports, and school discipline experiences. The efforts of this group are made possible through generous funding and research partnerships with the Heinz Endowments, The Pittsburgh Study at Children’s Hospital, the Institute of Educational Sciences, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, American Institutes for Research, RK Mellon Foundation, and the Staunton Farm Foundation.
Program Links
Pitt-Assisted Communities & Schools
Additional Resources
2021-2022
Huguley, J.P., Cherry, M., Haynik, R.H., Cleveland, K.C., & Henderson, M.H. (2022). Strength for the Journeys: Lessons from African American Families on Academic Programming and Educational Involvement. Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh College Access Alliance. Review Full Report.
2020-2021
Riana Elyse Anderson PhD, LCP, University of Michigan School of Public Health. Healing Racial Trauma: Racial Socialization as a Clinical Strategy for Black Youth. View Video of Lecture > >
James P. Huguley, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Dismantling the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Students of Color and Students with Disabilities. View Video of Lecture > >
John Diamond, Kellner Family Distinguished Chair in Urban Education, University of Wisconsin - Madison. Reframing Suburbs: Examining Issues of Racial Equity in Suburban Schools. View Video of Lecture > >
2019-2020
Michael A Lindsey. Executive Director, NYU McSilver Institute, NYU Silver School of Social Work, New York University, and Aspen Health Innovator Fellow, The Aspen Institute. “Ring the Alarm: A Mental Health Crisis of Black Youth.” View Video of Lecture > >
Desmond Patton Ph.D., Colombia University School of Social Work. Confronting Racial bias in the Use of Social Media Data and Al Tools for Gun Violence Prevention. View Video of Lecture > >
Daren Graves, Simmons University, & Scott Seider, Boston College. Schooling for Critical Consciousness: Engaging Black and Latinx Youth in Analyzing, Navigating, and Challenging Racial Injustice. View Video of Lecture > >
2017-2018
Littisha Bates Ph.D., University of Cincinati. Navigating Schools Inequality: How Parents Pursue Magnet School Admissions. View Video of Lecture > >
Kevin Thomas Ph.D., Pennsylvania State Univesity. Parental Human-Capital, Low Skilled Jobs, and Racial Disparities in Child Poverty in Immigrant Families. View Video of Lecture > >
Kaleab Abebe
Sommer Blair
Cecily Davis MSW
Bianca DeBellis
Monica Henderson
James Huguley
Daniesha Hunter Rue
Liz Miller Miller
Debby Moon
Paula Powe
Rachel Vaughn Coaxum
John Wallace
Ming Te Wang