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“I WANT TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I’M NOT SCARED”: THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON ADOLESCENTS EXPOSED TO ONGOING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE

A thesis presented by

Meleah Rose Musilek Selip

to The School of Education

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education

In the field of

Education

College of Professional Studies Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts February 2017

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Dedication

This work is dedicated to the life and memory of my grandfather, Michael Musilek, who instilled such love of family, our Czech culture, and the value of hard work in me. I have never met a gentler soul and he blessed me with a love that not even death could diminish. My most sincere hope is that he is smiling down on me and proud to see his granddaughter achieve the things he’d hoped for our family.

Miluji tě, Pappy.

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Acknowledgements

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10

I would not have finished this race without the support of:

All praises to God for this amazing opportunity and challenge. I constantly reflect on the manner in which You call me to serve others and I commit my life to continuing this work. I thank my family for their love and encouragement, specifically my parents –

Joseph and Lisa Selip. I thank my committee, Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons, Dr. Lynda

Beltz, and Dr. Tyler Ream, for their prompting questions and guidance. I am appreciative of the support from my classmates and friends, Tieren Scott and Erika Richardson – our monthly dinner dates and hilarious group chat served as a reminder to me that I was never alone in this process. I am forever indebted to the amazing young people who shared their stories with me as part of this research. I am honored to have been in the presence of such strength.

I thank my remarkable fiancé and best friend, Corey. You inspire me in every way. Of all of the blessings in my life, I treasure you most. Now that I have finished writing my dissertation, I can begin to write the most important words I will ever say – my vows. I can’t wait to spend forever with you and I love you.

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Abstract

Statistically, high poverty communities (and those who live in these communities) experience higher rates of violence than middle and upper income communities (Nikula,

Spatz Widom & Czaja, 2011). Repeated exposure to community violence impacts one’s perception of safety, which includes protection from elements, security, stability, order, and the freedom from fear (Maslow, 1943). This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was conducted with the purpose of examining the lived experiences of six adolescents who have experienced trauma related to repeated exposure to community violence. Four themes emerged as the researcher analyzed the qualitative data regarding how participants made sense of their experiences. First, participants viewed safety in their community as complex, depending on numerous variables. Second, participants reported relationships with those close to them as critical in determining whether or not they communicated about their experiences of trauma. Third, participants’ exposure to chronic community violence had an impact on their perception of safety, specifically in regards to ongoing feelings of fear and worry. Finally, participants’ views of other people and the world in general were altered by chronic community violence and the trauma associated with witnessing it.

Keywords: trauma, violence, safety, community, adolescents, mental health

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Table of Contents Dedication ...... 2 Acknowledgements ...... 3 Abstract ...... 4 Table of Contents ...... 5 Chapter One: Introduction ...... 8 Statement of Problem and Significance ...... 8 Political and Social Climate ...... 12 Positionality ...... 14 Theoretical Framework ...... 17 Research Question ...... 23 Chapter Two: Literatu