Sp’ange: 1 A Research Story

Abstract

The authors use a storied representation to highlight the aesthetic and feeling qualities of their research about homeless youth. The authors also include a description of their mother/son research collaboration and the impact of that relationship on the research process. Names of youth are pseudonyms or street names, and all dialogues and reflections with participants were taken from audiotaped conversations. The following several themes are developed in this research story: the formation by homeless youth of family-like structures, the use of cocaine and heroin, early use of alcohol and primacy of alcohol as the drug of choice, and attitudes toward government, economic structures, and work. The problem of youth homelessness reflects the shortcomings of national youth policy and the failures of practices that concern youth. It is the authors’ purpose to provide an opportunity for homeless youth to tell their stories and to contribute their own voices to conversations among educators and policy makers who make decisions that influence the life histories of youth, homeless or otherwise.

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