VAYLA-NO has begun its youth-led participatory action research (PAR) project to collect much needed information and statistics on the lives of young people in our community. Currently, there is no reliable data reflecting the problems that Vietnamese-American youth in New Orleans encounter at school, at home, in relationships, and on the street. Rather than relying on outsiders to impose a research design and methodology, this program empowers youth in New Orleans East to conduct their own culturally sensitive, neighborhood-specific research, based on the first-hand knowledge that they have of the issues that are most detrimental and endemic. VAYLA-NO is working with the DataCenter to plan, design and implement a youth needs assessment survey, to create and manage the database, to analyze data, to produce a report or other data produce for public distribution, and to build organizational capacity to do PAR work. DataCenter has a long-standing history of providing strategic research and capacity building tools for grassroots organizations advocating for positive social change.

By generating statistical information regarding educational underachievement, violence, and mental and physical health in the community, the leaders at VAYLA-NO will be in a better position to educate their peers, develop programming opportunities, and advocate for policy changes and public services. Socialized to feel powerless in the face of poverty and institutional oppressions, this project empowers youth to identify pressing health, education, and economic issues, and equip the community with the knowledge it needs to collectively take action to improve the conditions for youth.