Dr. Lateef’s research is concerned with the exploration of cultural and community-based factors influencing violence among high-risk black male youth. The research focuses on how culture and positive ethnic identity socialization may contribute to bolstering Positive Youth Development (PYD) for this population. After years of working to support juvenile lifers who had been serving life-without-parole sentences in prison, Dr. Lateef is also focused on a research agenda aimed at improving the outcomes of former system-involved youth.