TLC in Youth Work

     My understanding of "care" in education and youth development is pretty much the same as it was before the readings. It varies.

    Through out my own educational journey as an Afro-Latina, I have come to learn that while some educators are in tuned with humanity, specifically the humanity of the demographic they are educating, some are not. It has also been my experience, that even those who do get it are in different stages of development themselves which may pose challenges for them and their educational style.

    An example from my childhood that I connect to "care" in education is an experience I periodically reflect on from my middle school days. Writing has always been an outlet for me. Somewhere early on I found that writing my feelings out on paper made them feel more real, more tangible. It was almost like I could prove they existed. I remember my middle school teacher really took interest in me and my writings, specifically my poems. She even went as far as putting extra time into preparing me for the Classical High School entrance exam. When I was accepted, she personally came to find me to share the news before it was announced to school over the loud speaker during end of the day announcements.

    This same teacher, did not take the same stock in helping the educational development of one of my peers. His name was Jansel Richards aka Dj Hanz. Jansel was a vibrant, lyrically gifted, Dominican boy. He often interrupted class by rapping lyrics of current artists or free-styling, which is a form of impromptu rap. He also had no fear challenging the teacher when he didn't agree with her teachings. He was so passionate about his craft that he even convinced our English teacher to allow him to sell his first mix tape in class for $3. That was an isolated situation because this teacher often kicked Jansel out of class. Sending him to the office, which often resulted in more severe punishments, such as suspension. 

    Fast forward in life, I landed long term and stable positions at a local healthcare organization. Which at the very least have afforded me the ability to maintain in life. Jansel went on to create more mix tapes and became a fixture on our local urban radio stations. Unfortunately, he also succumbed to the allure of the streets. Becoming involved in illegal activities. He died of asthma in jail. He was the victim of neglect within the Department of Corrections. 

    I often reflect on my life experiences and how they have affected where I am today. When this memory comes up, I wonder if my middle school English teacher took the same "care" she took with me, with Jansel; where would he be. Would he be here? Would he be a successful Dj and rapper? 

    Based on this experience along with many others I continue to strive for growth in the form of healing. It has become evident that when "cared" for intentionally people thrive. I just really want to pay that gem forward during my days on this Earth.

    

                            

Youth Work in Action!

When I asked myself, "Where do I see Social Justice Youth Development work happening?" 

My immediate thought given the state of the current social climate was, ummm,  EVERY WHERE! According to The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)...the average age of protesters is 18-34 years old. That is a lot of Youth and young voices. Some of those youth and young people are right here in our own state, in our own communities! 

In my opinion the PrYSM organization, which is located on Elmwood Ave. in Providence , which is also right in the heart of my hood, the Westend is a good example. The mission at PrYSM is to train, develop and support SouthEast Asian people, queer, trans and survivors of police violence to become leaders and change makers through direct action, community programs and movement building. One of the many examples would be the work they do through their Community Defense Project to empower youth to know their rights when interacting with law enforcement. What actions to take if their rights are violated and how to further spread the word and educate their communities on their rights. The project also ensures community members little to no cost legal representation in legal matters where they are the victims of the unjust legal system.

The more I learn about what our Youth are doing in our very own community, the more encouraged I become. I continue to be amazed at how resilience can manifest itself in the form of social justice. In the example of PrSYM, I think they do a really good job at genuinely serving the community.

The next question that comes to mind is, "how can their approach be expanded?"

Youth Work Ideologies

“Demetri, an alumnus of our program who is now a professional coach at this organization, engaged the YD students directly, facilitating the same sock tag game he had presented years ago in his own Introduction to Youth Development class.”	This quote spoke to me because it models Positive Youth Development in action. Demetri was able to utilize what he learned during his YD training to replicate it with another group of youth in a setting where he was the lead coach/youth worker.
“In using stories to convey a dimension of our complex program, we resist the discourse of quantified "outcome based" research on teaching and learning”	For me this quote speaks to one of the aspects that drew me to YDEV, which is how unique the program is. The acknowledgement of individual stories and how they mold the outcome of the learning experience, also explains that not all learning is conventional.
“As youth work leaders, they know who they are and what they believe.”	This line speaks empowerment to me. When I read it, I connected it to social justice youth development and the confidence one would need to possess when fighting alongside youth against inequitable systems.