FOCUS
Research targeting adolescent mental health in the wake of intergenerational violence has led to the exploration of multiple potential protective factors (i.e., presence of green spaces, collective efficacy). Little is known about how such factors affect brain development, however. Maya’s research will use a mixed-methods approach to explore how these protective factors can promote healthy brain development and wellbeing among youth whose families have been exposed to violence. In partnership with youth and families, Maya hopes to create a Culture of Health where policies harness existing community strengths to improve intergenerational mental health. Eliminating health disparities that marginalized youth face is dependent on investigating factors that buffer against the impact of harmful exposures, and in doing so, we might be able to collectively break intergenerational cycles of violence and harm.
MORE ABOUT MAYA
Maya’s commitment to creating a Culture of Health stems from witnessing intergenerational acts of resilience, compassion, and activism by her grandmother and mother. She now hopes to use these same values to innovatively address mental health inequities and drive policy and systems change, centering historically marginalized communities throughout.
