Critical Youth Development
Assuming that the YD ideology inventory was done correctly, I identify with critical youth development most. The orientation of this horoscope is, "a focus on how youth engage with and impact their communities and cultures." I strongly agree with the results of the inventory.I believe that if youth know how to critically think and understand the situations they find themselves in, combined with their strengths and resources, they are able to prevent/ avoid situations they do not want to find themselves in. Therefore, prevention because a natural reaction/ mechanism.
The second category I most identified with was positive youth development. The orientation of this outcome supports my initial idea even more. The orientation of this horoscope is, "a focus fostering strengths and positive growth also helps prevent negative outcomes."Above I mention that critical thinking will enable youth to prevent/ avoid situations they would not like to find themselves in, based on this perspective, critical think would be the strength and would prevent negative outcomes.
I am comfortable with the fact that risk, residency, and prevention was the horoscope that I least identified with. Based on personal experiences, I feel that youth do not respond well to adults assuming that they can not make good choices for themselves, or when they are treated like their judgement isn't good enough. I maybe completely wrong but that is something I would hate to put someone through and like to avoid.
Overall I enjoyed this inventory. It allowed me to understand more about myself and understand other approaches. Although I may not identify as strongly with one, I can see how that perspective is still effective and at times necessary.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
YIA: A World Where Youth Hold the Power
It wasn't
until my senior year of high school that I finally had a teacher that forced us
to think critically and challenged us to question the rules in our school and
the content we were being taught. I remember her asking us all the time, "
So what are you going to DO about it?" Whenever we would complain about
other teachers or didn't like what the guidance counselor said, she would ask
us that question. I appreciate her genuine interest in how we felt and thought
about the world happening to us but more importantly, that she would make us do
something about it.
The
youth at Youth In Action are very fortunate that they get to expose to their own
voice at an early age and that they are encouraged to use it. I love how they
are encouraged to debate, discuss, and defend what they believe in. It’s an
intellectual process that forces them to stand up for what they believe in
based on personal conviction. The debates they have break down ideas, beliefs,
and customs that have been forced upon them, and allows them to reconstruct
them in a way that is true to who they really are at their core.
YIA
models the notion “with, not to” in many ways. From the youth being active
members of the board of directors, down to heated conversations about
controversial topics. All the testimonials that came from the adults involved
at YIA reflected their growth and the impact the youth have had on them. This
shows that they too are apart of that personal reconstruction process. By
letting the youth run most of the program, YIA is a living illustration of the
notion “with not to.” The students all, in some way, mentioned being stripped
of a voice, feeling like what happened in the classroom didn’t encourage
critical thinking or have room for their authentic thoughts. At YIA those
authentic thoughts are encouraged, empowered, and brought to life through the youth’s
actions.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Youth Work: Preparation for Practice
The
seven characteristics of youth work are: Youth work is an educational practice,
Youth work is a social practice, Youth workers challenge inequality and work
towards social justice, Where possible, young people choose to be involved,
Youth work seeks to strengthen young people to influence the environment in
which they live, Youth work is a welfare practice, and Youth work works with
young people holistically.
The seven characteristics show the
different roles a youth worker plays, and explains how a profession that “works
with young people because they are young” involves many aspects of the youth’s
lives. An example of youth work as an educational practice is TALL U. Elizabeth
would purposefully intervene; enable young people to think, feel, and act
differently towards their social world. Their performance to the song Glory,
portrayed their understanding of the social dilemmas the world around them is
currently facing.
Youth
work is a social practice that allows youth to work with others to “ nurture
collective association”. The youth get to learning about social behaviors,
expectations, and challenges from each other. It becomes a co-dependent social
practice.
An
example of youth workers challenging inequality and working towards social
justice would be when advisor from the MET high school joined their students in
the police brutality and black lives matter protest. The advisors understood
the impact Mike Brown’s death had on their students and instead of just speaking
about in the classroom, they physically joined them in the fight. Going out
there with the students “ promoted social justice for young people and society
in general.” This example also fit for the characteristic that where possible,
young people choose to be involved. Just as the advisors made a conscience
decision to protest so did the students. It was a “ voluntary attendance.” This
was the extent to which they chose to shape an encounter that was important to
them.
Youth
work as a welfare practice is “ work with young people experiencing greater
needs or in areas of higher deprivation.” Most of the time this characteristic
is addressed when an organizations sole purpose is to solve the problem. For
example the WIC program that aims to provide families with young children with
healthy food options and nutritional supplements. Although that is the main
goal of WIC it also helps low-income family have access to free food. WIC does
a good job at serving more than one purpose while trying to solve one problem.
Ultimately
youth workers aim to “ encourage and enable young people to influence the
environment in which they live” this is best achieved when youth workers work
with young people holistically. It is the passion and ability to identify with
youth that drives youth workers to make a difference and empower young people.
These seven characteristics simplify youth work in a way that allows people to
understand the many functions of youth development.
About Me!
My name is Ashley Marie Morel
My daughter is Lieani and my doggy is Bummer
I love to cook but HATE to wash the dishes afterwards
I'm always up for coffee but could NEVER live without Jesus
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