Youth today are less likely to engage in civic life compared to past generations (Flanagan & Levein, 2010). These disparities are even further exacerbated when examining the intersections of race, ethnicity, and socio-economic background (Caprini, 2004). Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is one approach for enhancing youths’ civic engagement, by engaging them as crucial partners in the action research cycle. YPAR has been identified as a noteworthy strategy for promoting civic participation, and tackling structural inequities. Because of its emphasis on social justice, YPAR is an especially promising approach for youth who experience racism, and other forms of marginalization. However, YPAR remains the exception rather than the standard, with these projects often existing in isolation. Efforts to scale-up YPAR practices highlight the potential as a promising strategy for combatting disparities in civic participation. This dissertation examines an online platform, connecting three distinct YPAR project groups (N = 54). This study employs a mixed-method design (social network analysis, and qualitative interviews) to (1) explore changes within the online communication network throughout different stages of the YPAR project, and (2) identify key network and demographic predictors in predicting students’ frequency in overall utilization of YPAR practices. Network and qualitative findings suggest that online platforms have promise in diversifying traditional online networks as the project progresses (particularly in the social action stage), and highlight the critical role of communication partners’ behaviors on students’ utilization of YPAR practices. Additionally, implications for tackling disparities in civic participation, providing additional opportunities for dissemination, and larger scale setting level organizing are discussed.
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