ABout us
The Youth Community Action and Transformation (ACT) Lab is a new research collective housed in the Bates Psychology Department and led by new Psychology professor, Elena Maker Castro.
The Youth ACT lab recognizes that young people are at the forefront of social change across the globe. We also recognize that young people face systemic oppression that can both catalyze social change and obstruct it.
We believe that we need to better understand the conditions under which young people can thrive in their social change efforts and broader developmental trajectories. Therefore, we:
1) engage young people in collaborative research approaches that center youth agency and voice
2) leverage research to expose and redress the ways in which systemic oppression harms young people’s healthy development
3) amplify the work young people are already doing to support their healthy development and create a more just and equitable society
The Team
Our team is led by Dr. Elena Maker Castro, and 4 Bates undergraduates.
Dr. Elena Maker Castro
Principle Investigator, Assistant Psychology Professor
Dr. Maker Castro is an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Her research focuses on how adolescents and young adults pursue social change and civic engagement in relation to their developmental trajectories, contexts, and social identities (e.g., their racial-ethnic and gender identities). She often uses sociopolitical development and critical consciousness frameworks, and considers youth’s civic development as an important influence on wellbeing. She situates her work within the contemporary sociopolitical climate and seeks to build collaborative research relationships with local and national community and research partners. She also seeks to contribute to Maine’s thriving civic life through better understanding and amplifying youth leaders.
Ariya tayal
Research Assistant
Ariya is a research assistant in the Youth ACT Lab. She is a junior (‘26) from Pittsburgh, PA. At Bates, she is studying neuroscience on the premed track, minoring in Chinese, and has concentrations in Psychology, Philosophy, and English. In high school and her first year at Bates, she was engaged in stem cell research, and she is interested in engaging in community-based research surrounding access to equitable healthcare. She works as an Emergency Room Technician at Central Maine Medical Center, volunteers at Wisdom Womens (Lewiston, ME), Trinity Jubilee Soup Kitchen, and works for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Dionne Chen
Lab Manager
Dionne is the Youth ACT Lab Manager. She is a junior ('26) from NYC. At Bates, she is studying neuroscience on the pre-health track and concentrations in Education and English. In high school, she conducted psychology research focused on markers of youth social anxiety disorder. She now works at the Harward Center for Community Partnerships as the Communications Coordinator, and is also a ResLife Advisor. The Youth ACT Lab intersects two of her passions into one: a psychological approach at youth civic development.
Outside of academics she enjoys trying and reviewing new food, reading, and creating new playlists.
Yuleibi De Los Santos
Research Assistant
Yuleibi is a research assistant in the Youth ACT Lab, she is a junior ('26) major in Neuroscience, pre-med student with a concentration in Public Health. In her first year at Bates she worked as a research assistant in the Neuroscience department focused in face frame and data collection. She loves being around campus connecting with people. Her passion is to help people and support them.
Maddy Kwei
Research Assistant
Maddy is a senior ('25) at Bates College majoring in Psychology and minoring in French. She is interested in exploring research and clinical and counseling psychology, focusing on Asian American and youth perspectives. Throughout high school, she was engaged in various forms of civic engagement such as teaching English to youth and working with children with under-resourced backgrounds. This summer, she is researching youth civic engagement in rural Indiana and Maine, relating to the upcoming 2024 presidential election with a focus on well-being and mental health.
Outside academics, Maddy is on the Bates Golf team and loves spending time at the beach.