Community Research Report
Executive Summary
This summer, 18 high school students and recent graduates from Gary, Indiana, and Newark, New Jersey, became community researchers, investigating how social connections impact teen mental health in their own neighborhoods.
Key Discoveries
Friends matter most: Across all research methods, peers emerged as the #1 preferred support system for teen mental health
Adults need training: Despite good programs, many teens feel dismissed by school staff when seeking mental health support
Through photos, interviews, and surveys, these young researchers uncovered powerful insights about what helps—and what hurts—teen well-being in their communities.
Safety is foundational: Community violence and unsafe spaces directly impact teen mental health and connection
Communities have hidden assets: Both cities possess rich resources that are underutilized but could better support teen well-being
Teens are experts: Young people have sophisticated insights about community solutions and should lead programming efforts
eet Our Research Team
search was conducted by 18 dedicated high school students and graduates in collaboration with five young adult program
s. Together, they spent five weeks learning community-based patory research methods and investigating their own unities. These young researchers:
signed data collection tools, such as online and communitysed surveys, leveraging their community knowledge
nducted 30 interviews with peers and adults across both cities
ptured over 100 photographs documenting community assets
d challenges
rveyed 72 community members about social connection and olescent mental health
alyzed their findings using participatory research methods
esented recommendations to community stakeholders asn't just research about young people—it was research ung people to support their peers and improve our community.
Research Methods: How We Found Out
Photovoice: Seeing Through Teen Eyes
18 youth photographers documented their communities using a color-coding system: Green Zones: Places actively supporting teen mental health and connection
Yellow Zones: Underutilized resources that could better support teens
Blue Zones: Cultural assets that promote community belonging
Community Surveys: Measuring What Matters
72 community members across both cities completed surveys about: Social connectedness and community belonging
Mental health support systems
Community strengths and improvement needs
Community Interviews: Multiple Generations, One Conversation
Each researcher conducted two interviews: One with an adult community member (parent, teacher, community leader) One with a peer (fellow teen or young adult) This approach revealed both generational similarities and essential differences in how adults and teens view community connection.
Note: Our youth researchers are attributed throughout this report according to their preferences.
“While working on the asset mapping and interview practice, I used skills like communication, teamwork, and staying organized. I had to really think about what places or people in the community are helpful and why they matter. During the interview practice, I showed active listening by focusing on what the other person was saying and responding with good follow-up questions. It helped me get more comfortable talking to others and learning from their experiences.” —2025 Gary, IN Youth Researcher
What We Discovered: Major Findings
Finding #1: Support Starts with Friends
All three research methods pointed to the same conclusion: friends are the foundation of teen mental health support.
What the photos showed: Community spaces were valued primarily for their ability to bring teens together. Basketball courts, parks, skating rinks, and community centers mattered because they facilitated peer connections.
What the interviews revealed: When asked who they turn to for support, teens consistently named friends first. Adults also recognized that teens trust peer perspectives more than adult advice.
What the surveys confirmed: Friends ranked as the #1 support source in both cities, with 91% of Gary teens selecting friends as who they would talk to about personal problems, and Newark teens consistently ranking friends/peers at the top of their support hierarchies.
What this means: Effective mental health programming must work with existing peer networks,not try to replace them with adult-led interventions.
When reflecting on her peer interview, Sakeyah—Newark Youth Researcher—writes... “It really helps when they have friends they can trust and when adults listen to them."
What We Discovered: Major Findings
Finding #2: Adults Need Better Training
Despite good programs, too many teens feel dismissed by the adults meant to help them.
Newark's institutional paradox: Survey data showed that Newark teens gave high ratings (3.8-3.9 out of 5) to school mental health programming, yet 58% reported being dismissed by school staff when raising mental health concerns.
Gary's trust gaps: Interviews revealed fewer mentions of trusted adults, with teens primarily relying on peer networks for mental health support.
What this means: The problem isn't always a lack of programs— sometimes it's the quality of adult relationships. Training in traumainformed, respectful teen communication is essential.
When summarizing her peer interview, Abby—Gary Youth Researcher—observed, “Adults usually don't listen to what [teens] say, they always try to fix things...”
“We need adults/mentors to have more patience and genuine care for their students so they can feel seen. ”
—Arianna, Newark Youth Researcher
What We Discovered: Major Findings
Finding #3: Safety Is a Mental Health Issue
Community safety emerged as fundamental to teen well-being across all research methods.
Photo documentation showed: Abandoned buildings, underutilized spaces, and areas where teens expressed safety concerns.
Interview insights revealed: Violence and drug use were identified as major barriers to community connection in both cities.
Survey data confirmed: Multiple requests for "less gun violence," "more safe spaces," and"safe environments."
What this means: Mental health programming cannot succeed without addressing public safety and community conditions.
“All the violence and drug usage keep people our own age from wanting to engage or even care about the environment around them, since their mental and physical health isn't good."
—Carly, Gary Youth Researcher
What We Discovered: Major Findings
Finding #4: Hidden Community Treasures
Both communities have valuable resources that teens know about but that are underutilized.
Newark's hidden gems:
Libraries with extensive teen programming that youth rarely access
Urban farming and nature-based education and wellness programs
Cultural landmarks downtown that celebrate community heritage
Gary's untapped assets:.
Beautiful natural spaces (Lake Etta, beaches, parks) that teens find peaceful, but are underused
Historic landmarks connected to music heritage (Jackson 5 mural)
Community gardens and creative arts opportunities
What this means: Community development should focus on better connecting teens to existing assets, along with creating new spaces
"Newark
Public Library has many events and resources, such as tutoring and scholarships
for teens, but many teens do not go here."
"[Lake Etta] is a very calm place for teens to go, and I feel it is very underutilized... it is a very nice and calm place!" —Alexis, Gary Youth Researcher
— Zaniyah, Newark Youth Researcher
What We Discovered: Major Findings
Finding #5: Economic Stress Affects Mental Health
Teens understand the connection between economic stability and mental well-being.
Photo evidence: Recognition of youth job opportunities and economic resources, such as financial aid, as important community assets.
Interview connections: Social connections were directly linked to opportunities, such as jobs and scholarships.
Survey requests: Consistent demands for "more job opportunities," “scholarships,” "jobs during school year," and "more money for teens."
"Social connections can be linked to opportunities like jobs and scholarships... if you tell one person about the scholarships, [then you] both [become] successful."
What this means: Teen mental health support must include economic development and opportunity creation, not just counseling services.
—Brielle, Newark Youth Researcher
"Gary just needs more events. I feel like events brings the connections out and makes people a little more comfortable where they stay."
— Nyairah, Gary Youth Researcher
What Teens Are Asking For
Based on all research methods, teens across both cities made specific, actionable requests:
Immediate Needs
Safe teen spaces with gaming, music, comfortable seating, and food where they can "be themselves without judgment"
Program Ideas
"She [the peer I interviewed] felt that the space should be run by teens. That way they know who wants to come there and they're the ones running it because they're the ones coming there."
— Kayla, Gary Youth Researcher
More time for adults to listen to every teen individually
Job opportunities during the school year, not just summer
Adult mentorship training focusing on patience and genuine care
Community Changes
Teen clubs designed and ran by teens
Peer support circles that work with existing friend networks
Community service projects that build both skills and connections
Economic opportunities, such as jobs and scholarship programs, that connect mental health to financial stability
Environmental improvements addressing abandoned buildings and underutilized spaces
Violence prevention integrated with mental health programming
Better promotion of existing community resources so teens know what's available
Intergenerational programming that respects both teen voices and elder wisdom
"Fun
stuff like video games, snacks, comfy chairs, and music... a place to talk to friends or vent without being judged. Chill
adults who don't act bossy but are there if you need help." Janayah, Youth Newark Researcher
Looking Forward: What's Next
2026: Peer Mental Health
Advocates Program Launch
Building directly on these research findings, Butterfly Dreamz will launch a Peer Mental Health
Advocates Program that:
Trains teens as certified Youth Mental Health
First Aid responders
Leverages peer networks rather than replacing them with adult interventions
Addresses community safety and environmental factors affecting mental health
Connects mental health support to economic opportunity and community development
Positions youth as leaders in shaping programs and policies that affect them
Call to Action
For Community Members: Get involved in teen-led initiatives. Attend community presentations where young people share their research and recommendations.
For Organizations: Leverage these findings to design and partner with youth-led programming.
For Elected Officials: Listen to teen policy recommendations to improve community mental health support.
For Funders: Invest in youth leadership development and economic opportunities as part of your youth mental health strategy.
Conclusion
The Summer 2025 Community Development Internship proved that young people possess sophisticated analytical capacity, deep community knowledge, and innovative solution development abilities essential for effective community development.
Key takeaways:
Teen mental health cannot be addressed through individual interventions alone—It requires community-level changes addressing safety, adult relationship quality, economic opportunity, and cultural identity.
Sustainable solutions must be developed in partnership with young people as experts on their own experiences and needs.
The research process itself became community development, building networks between youth researchers, adult community members, and institutional stakeholders while developing concrete action plans.
Effective programming must be youth-led, culturally rooted, asset-based, and systems-focused—exactly what this summer internship modeled and proved feasible.
Moving forward, both Newark and Gary have rich ecosystems of community support alongside significant challenges. The path forward is clear: position young people as community development leaders, leverage existing community assets more effectively, and address systemic barriers through collaborative, intergenerational action. These young researchers have shown us the way. Now it's time for the whole community to follow their lead.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to our 18 incredible student researchers and our talented staff who dedicated their summer to this important work. Thank you to the 30 community members who shared their stories through interviews, the 72 survey respondents who provided rich data, and the countless community members who donated and welcomed our young photographers into community spaces.
Special appreciation to our community partners, local organizations, and the residents of Newark and Gary who supported this youth-led research initiative. This work belongs to our entire community.
Department of Health
About Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
butterflydreamz.org info@butterflydreamz.org @butterflydreamzinc
Founded in 2013 by Joy Lindsay, Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves 2,500+ youth annually across Northern New Jersey and Northwest Indiana. We collaborate with local schools and community-based organizations to promote the mental health, wellbeing, and leadership development of adolescent girls and young people living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Through our communitybased programs and research, we are creating a world where all girls can “live boldly, dream big, and fly high.”