Title: Do Adults Matter? Youth-Adult Relationships in the Lives of Adolescents

Abstract: During adolescence, the sphere of influence typically shifts from parental figures to one that encompasses their broader community. Young people encounter non-parental adults in the community through their social networks and various institutions, from extended family members and teachers to coaches and staff at youth-serving community organizations. These adults can be important sources of support, guidance, and social capital for youth (DuBois, Portillo, Rhodes, Silverthorn, & Valentine, 2011; Hurd and Sellers, 2013). Mentoring and other forms of adult support can serve as ways to facilitate and promote positive youth developmental outcomes. A series of studies will be presented in which I examine the role of mentor characteristics and mentoring relationship quality to a variety of developmental outcomes, such as acculturation, educational outcomes, and coping efficacy with racial discrimination. I will also present ongoing research on the role of sociopolitical support from adults in college students' educational experiences in service-learning, and ultimately, their civic engagement and participation. Because diverse populations of young people are situated in a multi-layered context, it is important to investigate the role of community-based adults in promoting positive youth development.