Project Summary:
Young Black men in Racine and Kenosha Counties face intersecting barriers that constrain education, health, safety, and economic mobility. Stark criminal-legal disparities result in arrest disparities in Kenosha and one of the nation’s widest Black-White imprisonment gaps, which heightens family disruption, employment barriers, and stress.
Achievement gaps persist alongside declining enrollments and resource strain, with Wisconsin posting the nation’s widest Black-White test-score gaps and markedly lower graduation rates for Black students, reflecting upstream disparities in school readiness, funding, and neighborhood opportunity. These educational inequities contribute to long-term social and health disparities that disproportionately affect young Black men.The first aim is to build a culturally grounded research partnership and establish shared governance through a Community Research Advisory Council. The second aim is to document and interpret the lived experiences of Black men across generations using arts-based and narrative inquiry methods, linking these stories to key behavioral and contextual variables that influence well-being. The third aim is to translate findings into community education, action, and policy impact through public exhibitions, dialogue, and co-learning.
Community Forums and Action Studios will then transform insights into practical steps—such as improving access to culturally responsive care, mentoring programs, and local wellness initiatives—culminating in a Black Male Wellness Framework for Racine and Kenosha.
Community Partners: Wisconsin Black Historical Society, Wayman AME Church - Racine, Delaware State University, Racine Unified School District, Racine Police Department, College Culture for Inclusion