Adolescent immigrant youth: Creating spaces of belonging.

This study focuses on how recently arrived immigrant adolescents in California's central coast region create spaces of belonging amid the dual transitions of adolescence and immigration. Drawing on 24 months of ethnographic research with 30 immigrant youth aged 13 to 17, the study introduces the concept of "immigrant youth vitality" to describe the resilience these teens exhibit as they navigate linguistic, cultural, and political challenges, including anti-immigrant sentiments. The youth actively construct safe, meaningful spaces—such as their homes, an English Language Development classroom, and a local gym—that serve as sites of social support, cultural expression, and emotional restoration. These findings highlight the agency of adolescent arrivals in redefining belonging despite systemic exclusion, underscoring the need for educational and community environments that better support their integration and well-being.