Barriers to Wellness: Voices and Views from Young People in Five Cities

Youth of color represent the fastest growing segment of the U.S. child population and make up the majority of the youth population in about half of the 100 largest U.S. cities. Fear, along with inequitable access to social supports, opportunities and experiences essential for healthy development, place this group at increased risk for poor health outcomes. To better understand the obstacles to well-being experienced by young people of color, the Center for Promise (CfP) implemented a youth-led health and wellness assessment in five cities -- Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and St. Paul.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first youth-led assessment conducted simultaneously in multiple U.S. cities. This report provides new insights into the obstacles to wellness young people of color face in five cities and brings young people's voices and views into the discussion about what affects their health and wellness.