Developmental 

Marc Zimmerman, Professor, School of Public Health and Psychology, University of Michigan

Monday, March 18, 2013, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
B247 East Hall

Event Information

Abstract: This presentation describes the development and evaluation of an after-school curriculum designed to prepare adolescents to prevent violence through community change. This curriculum, part of the Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities (YES) program, is guided by empowerment and ecological theories within a positive youth development context. YES is designed to enhance the capacity of adolescents and adults to work together to plan and implement community change projects. The youth curriculum is organized around six themed units: (a) Youth as Leaders, (b) Learning about Our Community, (c) Improving Our Community, (d) Building Intergenerational Partnerships, (e) Planning for Change, and (f) Action and Reflection. Initial evaluation results and current research will be discussed.

Bio:  Marc A. Zimmerman, Ph.D. is Professor and Chair in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education in the School of Public Health. He is also a professor in the Department of Psychology, and the Combined Program in Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan, and a Research Scientist in the Center for Human Growth and Development. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Illinois. Dr. Zimmerman is the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funded Prevention Research Center of Michigan which incorporates a community-based research approach to a diverse set of projects. He is also Director of the CDC-funded Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center and Principal Investigator of the Flint Adolescent Study a National Institute of Drug Abuse funded 12 year longitudinal study of ninth graders. He is Editor of Youth & Society, and editor emeritus of Health Education & Behavior and is a member of the editorial boards for Health Education Research and Psyche (a Chilean psychology journal). Dr. Zimmerman’s primary research has focused on empowerment theory, and the study of adolescent health and resiliency. His research has consistently focused on individual and community assets, resiliency, and community-based research methods. He has published over 150 papers and book chapters, and edited two books on a wide variety of topics including adolescent mental health, school outcomes, social relationships, racial identity, youth violence, sexual behavior, and alcohol and substance abuse; HIV/AIDS prevention; evaluation research; and empowerment theory. In 2010, Dr. Zimmerman received the Distinguished Contribution to Theory and Research Award from the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association), and the Distinguished Fellow award from the Society for Public Health Education.