Adolescent girls face social and identity issues as they transition into adulthood and after-school programs are one venue that allows adults to help students deal with the difficulties encountered. This is a qualitative case study focused on the impact the SISTERS Club, an after-school program, had on a diverse group of middle school female students over the course of a five year period, from 2001 to 2006. This study described the impact on identity development, multicultural relationships, and the long-term impact of the after-school program on the female adolescents interviewed.
I investigated the racial, social, and cultural barriers that impacted the development of adolescent girls and how a strong after-school program brought about positive identity growth and feelings of “belonging” to a gender specific group. I began by investigating the social constructs of gender and race that are prevalent to adolescent girls. I also investigated the impact of mentoring and service learning on the identity development of participants. Finally, I investigated the social and cultural impact the SISTERS Club program had on the girls involved and how this type of program can be utilized in other urban communities
