The papers presented in this symposium explore the role of empowerment dynamics in violence prevention. Traditional approaches to violence prevention address cultural or individual risk factors (or deficits), while empowerment interventions promote human diversity and self-determination (Prilletensky, 1997). Three presentations will examine how violence prevention interventions that (a) leverage community and individual assets and (b) transfer power and responsibility to vulnerable populations can reduce violence and promote peaceful communities.

Paper 1: Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities
Authors: Marc A. Zimmerman PhD, Andria B. Eisman MPH PhD, Elyse Thulin MPH, Thomas M. Reischl PhD, Susan P. Franzen MS, Pete Hutchison, BS
Violence remains a pervasive problem that negatively influences the health and well-being of youth and disproportionately affects youth living in socioeconomically challenged communities (Garvin, et al, 2013; Kann et al., 2014). In this study, we examined the longitudinal effects of an after-school program, Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES). Using a modified randomized design with 361 youth within 33 study cohorts, we found that YES participation directly enhanced empowerment outcomes and indirectly promoted prosocial behavior at the end of the program and at a 12-month follow-up assessment.

Paper 2: Resident Engagement in Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Authors: Thomas M. Reischl PhD, Laney Rupp MPH, Thomas Wyatt BS, Daniel Lee PhD, Justin Heinze PhD, Gregory Bushman MPH, MSW, Marc Zimmerman PhD
We examined the effects of community-engaged crime prevention activities in three urban neighborhoods. The importance of community engagement in neighborhood crime prevention has been highlighted by researchers who found lower social cohesion and greater distrust in high crime neighborhoods (Curry, et al., 2008; Garvin, Cannuscio, & Branas, 2013; Ross & Jang, 2000). Using a quasi-experimental longitudinal design, we found reductions in crime incidents in the neighborhoods with the most intensive resident engagement activities. We also found improvements in property maintenance, resident engagement, neighborhood perceptions, mental health symptoms, and reported victimizations.

Paper 3: Creating a sustainable youth-led leadership initiative for HIV vulnerable youth.
Authors: Helen Cahill, PhD
Sustainability and transfer of ownership is a challenge in youth leadership initiatives with vulnerable populations. I worked with a youth-led NGO to co-create a Leadership training short course to be led by young people in the key populations for HIV in the Asia-Pacific, including drug users, sex workers, and LGBTIQ young people. A full handover in ownership and delivery has led to sustained rollout across the last decade, with youth-led delivery in many countries in the region. Use of innovative literacy free pedagogies and a strong train the trainer model together with ownership by a youth-led NGO contributed to this sustainability.