The second event that I attended was an event called Living Loud: Mass Encarceration. This event took place in the social work building where Dr. Jesse Capece (a professor in the bachelors and master program) spoke about mass encarceration in the US and how it mainly effects people of color. This event was by far my favorite to attent because I believe that it isnt a population that gets much attention or help.
I believe that this event connects with the youth work some of us might be doing because I have a intrest in working with youth from low socioecomomic background and youth of color. Most of these youth usually have a family member who is encarcerated (most of the time it is there own father). This event helps me understand more about masencarceration and from there I can branch out and learn more about it on my own time. Find groups and way to advocate for this population and their families, especially children who have parents or close family members and are being effected by this broken system.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Event #1
The very first event that attended on campus, was Students Activities Day. This event is held on the quard, and it is a day where different organizations around campus, set up tables at the quad and give information about their organization. They also have different games, raffles and other fun activities to do. I went with some of my ydev friends and we walked around for a little and learned about the different and new organizations around campus.
I believe that this event ties into my ydev work because it helps me learn more about what RIC has to offer. It gives me a sense of different organizations I can join where I can gain experience and knowledge to work with more youth. For example, the ydev org had a table set up this day and of course I knew about this specfic org before, but a freshmen who is just incoming to the school, could have learned about this for the first time and could have join. In this org they would have learned more about youth and how to work with them.
I believe that this event ties into my ydev work because it helps me learn more about what RIC has to offer. It gives me a sense of different organizations I can join where I can gain experience and knowledge to work with more youth. For example, the ydev org had a table set up this day and of course I knew about this specfic org before, but a freshmen who is just incoming to the school, could have learned about this for the first time and could have join. In this org they would have learned more about youth and how to work with them.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Blog Post #11
Everytime I take the YD Ideology Inventory, I always feel as if my choices change and each time I am still surprise of the results that I end up getting. Taking this ideology was no different. I read thoroughly through each question and made sure that I chose what really felt true to me. When I started sorting my score, I got a little confused, but I think I figured it out.
When I was rating my questions, I thought I was going to get a completely different result. According to the ideology, my values algin with risk, resiliency and prevention. We aligned with what we scored the lowest on. The highest thing I scored on was positive youth development which is what I thought I aligened with the best. I believe that my values stand with positive youth development because I believe that we need to have healthy youth, physcially and mentally because they are out future. After I thought about this more, I relaized that I do believe that it is important for youth to learn about resiliency and grow form it. It helps youth understand their strengths and weakness and how to be healtheir yet and later on, healthier adults.
When I was rating my questions, I thought I was going to get a completely different result. According to the ideology, my values algin with risk, resiliency and prevention. We aligned with what we scored the lowest on. The highest thing I scored on was positive youth development which is what I thought I aligened with the best. I believe that my values stand with positive youth development because I believe that we need to have healthy youth, physcially and mentally because they are out future. After I thought about this more, I relaized that I do believe that it is important for youth to learn about resiliency and grow form it. It helps youth understand their strengths and weakness and how to be healtheir yet and later on, healthier adults.
Blog Post #9
One time that I witnessed racial injustice was a time that I had gone to a Verizon store in Warwick.
I would not necessarily call it racial injustice.
A few years ago, my mom and I went to a Verizon store in Warwick. It was near the busy holiday season and as we were sitting waiting for someone to help us, there was a white woman and her daughter sitting across from us, also waiting for someone to help them.
An associate, who happened to be of color, came out to help the woman and her daughter. The look on the woman's face instantly changed when she realized that he was going to be helping her. Before all of this happen, this same associate checked my mom and I and got us on the waiting list. He was extremely friendly and professional.
I was not entirely sure what the woman was trying to do, but it seemed like someone that the associate did not have much control over. This woman, instantly got upset and started speaking to him with a nasty attitude, rolling her eyes, talking under her breath and other things. He was trying to remind as calm as possible and explained things in a million ways, he tried to be nice and you can just tell by the look on his face, that he was overwhelmed and embarrassed by the nasty attitude this lady had.
After about 10 minutes of her and the associate going back and forth, she started to get loud and by now, the store was just paying attention to them to figure out what was going. The associate gave up and when and got a manager because this woman was being outrageous.
When he went back to get the manager, I leaned into my mom and whispered: "I bet you that the manager is white and her attitude is going to change once they come out". Sure enough, I was right. the manager was this short, blonde, green eyes man. He went over to the woman and had some small talk, asked her what was going on. She complained that the associate did not know what he was doing or what he was talking about. She explained to the manager what she needed, and the manager told her the SAME EXACT THING THAT THE ASSOCIATE DID!!
The manager explained things to her and she had calmed down, she was super friendly to the manager, she told him she understood and went on with her day. At this point, I was frustrated because it was clear that this woman was so rude and mean to the associate because he was black!! The manager did not even acknowledge the situation and my mom and I were not the only ones that noticed that this woman was racist. Other customers and even employees in the store, were whispering to each other, how rude and racist the woman was. When the situation was under control and the lady left, I asked to speak to that same manager. My mom and I immediately told him how rude and racist that woman was being and that the associate was extremely polite and professional and literally did not do or say anything wrong to her. He said he understood and that he was mad that, that happened, but he did not even do anything to make the woman understand that she was wrong.
After the incident had happened, my mother and I personally went up to the associate and we apologized to him, for having to go through that awful experience. We conversed a little with him and we told him how great he was and he did not deserve that.
This just makes me think about how in some states, racial injustice is much more common and worse than what I witnessed that day. In some states there are still things like segregrated proms and schools. It is sad that we are in 2018 and these things are still going on. I feel like in a way history does repeat itself.
After the incident had happened, my mother and I personally went up to the associate and we apologized to him, for having to go through that awful experience. We conversed a little with him and we told him how great he was and he did not deserve that.
This just makes me think about how in some states, racial injustice is much more common and worse than what I witnessed that day. In some states there are still things like segregrated proms and schools. It is sad that we are in 2018 and these things are still going on. I feel like in a way history does repeat itself.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Blog Post #7
Last week I was fortunate to attend a Student-Center Learning Research Conference, hosted by JFF.
JFF is a non-profit organization that works to bring change into the traditional American workforce and the education system.
I really enjoyed the conference because I learned many things about why it is important to center education around the students rather than a curriculum. I love that JFF has actual high school students on their panel and they listen to them and make sure to listen to their ideas, their questions and concerns.
I found that the conference did connect to out Leading With and Purposeful Play. In YDEV we tend to lead youth lead and be in charge of their own learning and this is exactly what the conference was about. We find a purpose in everything that we do and we make sure to always put youth first. We make sure they know that they are important, that they are being heard, and that their needs are being met.
I truly enjoyed the conference because I learned many new things and felt even more connected with ydev. I am looking forward to going to more conferences like this one, in the future.
JFF is a non-profit organization that works to bring change into the traditional American workforce and the education system.
I really enjoyed the conference because I learned many things about why it is important to center education around the students rather than a curriculum. I love that JFF has actual high school students on their panel and they listen to them and make sure to listen to their ideas, their questions and concerns.
I found that the conference did connect to out Leading With and Purposeful Play. In YDEV we tend to lead youth lead and be in charge of their own learning and this is exactly what the conference was about. We find a purpose in everything that we do and we make sure to always put youth first. We make sure they know that they are important, that they are being heard, and that their needs are being met.
I truly enjoyed the conference because I learned many new things and felt even more connected with ydev. I am looking forward to going to more conferences like this one, in the future.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Blog Post #5
This weekend I went to the Children's Museum with my sisters and niece. It was so much fun!! I decided to take the opportunity to just play, rather than capturing a million pictures on my phone. Sometimes it is better to live in the moment and have the memories rather than the videos and pictures.
At first, I felt a little awkward to play because here is a grown woman playing at a children's museum, not an adult museum. I thought to myself that it did not matter how old I was, I was there to enjoy the time with my siblings and niece.
We had fun in the whole museum. The girls enjoyed running around freely and play with no directions. They loved being in charge of their space and time. I had fun not worrying about them being bored or lost, not knowing what to do. We pretended to work on farms, we built many different things.
We pretended to be pirates when we got to the exhibit that had a ship in it. We were owners of a bodega and we just really enjoyed and took advantage of the space.
Jenkins's 6 Ps are:
Permission: Children and adults have to give themselves the permission to play. Before stepping foot in the museum, I had to analyze myself give myself the permission to have fun in a public place - something that is out of my norm.
Process: Process is when we focus on the play, we focus on how we do things and what we do. At the museum, I focused on the play, I watched what I was doing and how to set an example to the little ones.
Participation: You are engaged and putting in the effort to be involved in something. I was participating in the activities with my siblings and niece. I was present and was enjoying playing around with them.
This assignment was fun to do and I realized that life does not always have to be serious and as adults, we should play more often!
At first, I felt a little awkward to play because here is a grown woman playing at a children's museum, not an adult museum. I thought to myself that it did not matter how old I was, I was there to enjoy the time with my siblings and niece.
We had fun in the whole museum. The girls enjoyed running around freely and play with no directions. They loved being in charge of their space and time. I had fun not worrying about them being bored or lost, not knowing what to do. We pretended to work on farms, we built many different things.
We pretended to be pirates when we got to the exhibit that had a ship in it. We were owners of a bodega and we just really enjoyed and took advantage of the space.
Jenkins's 6 Ps are:
- Permission
- Process
- Passion
- Productivity
- Participation
- Pleasure
I found myself doing 3 out of these 6:
Permission: Children and adults have to give themselves the permission to play. Before stepping foot in the museum, I had to analyze myself give myself the permission to have fun in a public place - something that is out of my norm.
Process: Process is when we focus on the play, we focus on how we do things and what we do. At the museum, I focused on the play, I watched what I was doing and how to set an example to the little ones.
Participation: You are engaged and putting in the effort to be involved in something. I was participating in the activities with my siblings and niece. I was present and was enjoying playing around with them.
This assignment was fun to do and I realized that life does not always have to be serious and as adults, we should play more often!
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Blog Post #4
On Monday, it was my first day of internship and I was so excited about it. I have worked with youth of different ages but I usually work with youth between the ages of 18 months to seven years old.
On my first day of internship, I felt a little discouraged. I was working in the Primary Room of the school. I was off to a great start, then the kids started to arrive for the school day. They were so independent it scared me. I thought to myself "they don't even need me here, these children are so independent". I thought that maybe this internship was not the right fit for me because I was not any help to the teachers since the students were able to do things on their own.
I left that day and I felt horrible about myself because even though the teachers and the students were beyond awesome, I still felt as if I did nothing to be any type of help. The next day, I returned to internship, this time I was in the Toddler Room. I felt right at home here. The children were also independent for their ages, but they still needed help and relied on the adults in the room. Again, I thought to myself "okay, maybe this will not be too bad, at least I really like the toddler room". Since Tuesdays will be my long days at internship, I am split between the two classrooms so that afternoon I went back to the Primary Room and again, I felt like I was no help to the kids and they were fine on their own.
Lunch and rest time came. As the kids gathered their lunchboxes and chose a seat in the classroom, the teacher had asked me to go around and see who needed help. I was thrown back because I did not think that the kids would need help - I was wrong. So many of the kids came to me asking for help opening their containers, yogurts, fruit snacks, chips. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders because I was finally able to help the kids.
After I completed my hours for the day, on my drive back I started to reflect on my feelings. I realized that this was only my first week of internship and this is something that is new to me. I am used to working in public schools and it is completely different from a Montessori school. I realized that this was a learning experience. I had to learn that children do not always need help. They have to learn to be independent and do things on their own and this was how Montessori taught those very important lessons. I changed my attitude and declared that this internship was going to be a learning experience for myself and this is why I was doing it and this is what I wanted to get out of it.
I decided to start my blog off with this short reflection because it reminded me of when I was about 3 or 4 and everything was done for me. Adults have this tendency that they want children to be independent but then we lose the patience we get mad at THEM and end up doing the task for them and then when they do not know how to do something we also get mad because they rely so much on us. It is hard to understand that children, no matter how young, have a mind of their own and have to make their choices. When I was about this age, my mother did everything for me, she would try to do her best to let me learn things on my own but if she ran out of patience or was in a rush, she would take over the task. I was not able to completely make my own choice because I did not know how. Until I was about 8, my mother would still pick out my outfits, she would make my choices without even realizing she was doing it. I am so grateful that she was caring but when it came time for me to make my own choices, I was always so indecisive and unsure of what it was that I really wanted. I wish that my mother let me make my own choices when I was younger. I see this today in my little sister, she is 5 years old and since she was about 1 and a half, she was always very independent. I knew this was very difficult for my mom because she used to doing everything for her other 3 children. My little sister never let anyone take that choice away from her. She made her own choices and my mom and stepdad would only intervene if her choice was not safe or appropriate. My little sister was getting dressed on her own by the time she was 2, she knew how to put on her shoes before that. Now she can make her own snacks and knows how to make certain cold foods. She is so independent and it is amazing to watch her thrive!
As adults, we have to learn to have patience with children because they also are learning to have patience with themselves. Instead of rushing them or becoming frustrated when they are taking too long, we have to encourage them to keep going, step back and put our hands in our pockets and only help when they ask. They have to learn to be in control of their choices. I think if adults were more respecting about children's choices, children would be more independent and have less self-conflict.
On my first day of internship, I felt a little discouraged. I was working in the Primary Room of the school. I was off to a great start, then the kids started to arrive for the school day. They were so independent it scared me. I thought to myself "they don't even need me here, these children are so independent". I thought that maybe this internship was not the right fit for me because I was not any help to the teachers since the students were able to do things on their own.
I left that day and I felt horrible about myself because even though the teachers and the students were beyond awesome, I still felt as if I did nothing to be any type of help. The next day, I returned to internship, this time I was in the Toddler Room. I felt right at home here. The children were also independent for their ages, but they still needed help and relied on the adults in the room. Again, I thought to myself "okay, maybe this will not be too bad, at least I really like the toddler room". Since Tuesdays will be my long days at internship, I am split between the two classrooms so that afternoon I went back to the Primary Room and again, I felt like I was no help to the kids and they were fine on their own.
Lunch and rest time came. As the kids gathered their lunchboxes and chose a seat in the classroom, the teacher had asked me to go around and see who needed help. I was thrown back because I did not think that the kids would need help - I was wrong. So many of the kids came to me asking for help opening their containers, yogurts, fruit snacks, chips. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders because I was finally able to help the kids.
After I completed my hours for the day, on my drive back I started to reflect on my feelings. I realized that this was only my first week of internship and this is something that is new to me. I am used to working in public schools and it is completely different from a Montessori school. I realized that this was a learning experience. I had to learn that children do not always need help. They have to learn to be independent and do things on their own and this was how Montessori taught those very important lessons. I changed my attitude and declared that this internship was going to be a learning experience for myself and this is why I was doing it and this is what I wanted to get out of it.
I decided to start my blog off with this short reflection because it reminded me of when I was about 3 or 4 and everything was done for me. Adults have this tendency that they want children to be independent but then we lose the patience we get mad at THEM and end up doing the task for them and then when they do not know how to do something we also get mad because they rely so much on us. It is hard to understand that children, no matter how young, have a mind of their own and have to make their choices. When I was about this age, my mother did everything for me, she would try to do her best to let me learn things on my own but if she ran out of patience or was in a rush, she would take over the task. I was not able to completely make my own choice because I did not know how. Until I was about 8, my mother would still pick out my outfits, she would make my choices without even realizing she was doing it. I am so grateful that she was caring but when it came time for me to make my own choices, I was always so indecisive and unsure of what it was that I really wanted. I wish that my mother let me make my own choices when I was younger. I see this today in my little sister, she is 5 years old and since she was about 1 and a half, she was always very independent. I knew this was very difficult for my mom because she used to doing everything for her other 3 children. My little sister never let anyone take that choice away from her. She made her own choices and my mom and stepdad would only intervene if her choice was not safe or appropriate. My little sister was getting dressed on her own by the time she was 2, she knew how to put on her shoes before that. Now she can make her own snacks and knows how to make certain cold foods. She is so independent and it is amazing to watch her thrive!
As adults, we have to learn to have patience with children because they also are learning to have patience with themselves. Instead of rushing them or becoming frustrated when they are taking too long, we have to encourage them to keep going, step back and put our hands in our pockets and only help when they ask. They have to learn to be in control of their choices. I think if adults were more respecting about children's choices, children would be more independent and have less self-conflict.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Blog Post #3
For this blog post, we had to read 3 different types of materials and then reflect on the different stereotypes that we found in them, what beliefs about children/youth shape these stereotypes and how these stereotypes are impacted by race, gender, class etc. In the 3 types of reading, I found a theme in each one of them. The authors all made some great points as to why young people are stereotyped so much, and who young people really are.
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In Lesley Bogad's piece, she made a great point "Youth as a category is perhaps one of the most taken-for-granted Western social constructions" and she is absolutely right. Society thinks that because young people (whether they are children, teens or young adults), simply do not understand how life works. We undermind their honest opinions, their freedom of speech, the way they express themselves and much more.
In this piece I noticed that Lesley had set the theme of a very common stereotype, ALL teens are mysterious and are always hiding something. Do we ever stop to think that maybe, as adults, we just punish teens when they do something "wrong" or believe in something that we don't?
I believe that youth (especially teens) shape this stereotype because they are afraid to come to grown-ups, with their troubles and worries. Some parents tend to shun their child and don't listen to them, leading youth to hide their feelings and do things behind their parents back, because of the lack of trust.
I think that class and race plays a small role in this stereotype. Youth from low or high-income communities are all affected by parents who do not listen or care about their opinions and feelings. In both communities, you can have parents who work too much and do not have time to sit with their children and listen to them. Some parents might be too tired and do not feel like dealing with "teenage drama" and many other factors can affect this.
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In the article by Shirley Steinberg, she starts off the piece with a conversation he had with a parent when she went back to teach high school drama classes. The parent had asked Ms.Steinberg why she liked teaching these teenagers and why she takes them out after school for dinner. The parent said that no likes teenagers because they're so bad and evil.
While reading this piece, I realized that Steinberg had a focus on the one stereotype that many people believe, teenagers are mean, bad, cynical, evil and simply cannot be trusted.
I was once a teenager, and I think it's obvious to say we all were, are or will become teenagers at some point. Speaking from experience, I do think that most teens go through a rebel stage, but I don't think that necessarily makes them bad or evil.
I believe that race and class, do play a bigger role in this because teens of color and from low-income community are seen as bad and dangerous than teens who are white and come from high-income communities. Black teen males are portrayed as more dangerous and uneducated because of their race and the community they grew up in.
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In the last piece by Collier Meyerson, the author touches base on a very common stereotype amongs African American girls. Meyerson states that because of slavery, black girls have a "more active sex life" which portrays them as older than what they really are.
Meyerson describes how there are 3 common stereotypes:
*********************************************************************************
In Lesley Bogad's piece, she made a great point "Youth as a category is perhaps one of the most taken-for-granted Western social constructions" and she is absolutely right. Society thinks that because young people (whether they are children, teens or young adults), simply do not understand how life works. We undermind their honest opinions, their freedom of speech, the way they express themselves and much more.
In this piece I noticed that Lesley had set the theme of a very common stereotype, ALL teens are mysterious and are always hiding something. Do we ever stop to think that maybe, as adults, we just punish teens when they do something "wrong" or believe in something that we don't?
I believe that youth (especially teens) shape this stereotype because they are afraid to come to grown-ups, with their troubles and worries. Some parents tend to shun their child and don't listen to them, leading youth to hide their feelings and do things behind their parents back, because of the lack of trust.
I think that class and race plays a small role in this stereotype. Youth from low or high-income communities are all affected by parents who do not listen or care about their opinions and feelings. In both communities, you can have parents who work too much and do not have time to sit with their children and listen to them. Some parents might be too tired and do not feel like dealing with "teenage drama" and many other factors can affect this.
*********************************************************************************
In the article by Shirley Steinberg, she starts off the piece with a conversation he had with a parent when she went back to teach high school drama classes. The parent had asked Ms.Steinberg why she liked teaching these teenagers and why she takes them out after school for dinner. The parent said that no likes teenagers because they're so bad and evil.
While reading this piece, I realized that Steinberg had a focus on the one stereotype that many people believe, teenagers are mean, bad, cynical, evil and simply cannot be trusted.
I was once a teenager, and I think it's obvious to say we all were, are or will become teenagers at some point. Speaking from experience, I do think that most teens go through a rebel stage, but I don't think that necessarily makes them bad or evil.
I believe that race and class, do play a bigger role in this because teens of color and from low-income community are seen as bad and dangerous than teens who are white and come from high-income communities. Black teen males are portrayed as more dangerous and uneducated because of their race and the community they grew up in.
*********************************************************************************
In the last piece by Collier Meyerson, the author touches base on a very common stereotype amongs African American girls. Meyerson states that because of slavery, black girls have a "more active sex life" which portrays them as older than what they really are.
Meyerson describes how there are 3 common stereotypes:
- Jezebel: Naturally hypersexual
- Sapphire: Angry, masculine
- Mammy: Motherlike, asexual, nurturing
Meyerson is stating that African Americans are seen as older than what they are and what I listed above, are the reasons why. African American girls are seen as more sexual than girls of other races ad its because during slavery, they would be sold at young ages and they would usually start having children as early as age 12 or 13, due to being raped by their owners. African American women are also seen as angry, because of their temper, masculine because some are more muscular than women of other races. They are also portrayed as motherly, because of their culture and nurturing.
Of course, race plays an enormous role in this stereotype. Meyerson explains how girls of color get in more trouble for breaking dress codes than white girls. Also, girls of color are given harsher punishments in school than white girls.
*********************************************************************************
After reading through all 3 readings, I thought about a time I was put into a stereotype as a teen. When I was about 12 or 13, I did not want to listen to my mom and I was in my rebel stage of life and my mom would just think that I was bad and up to no good. What she wasn't realizing was that she was working 6 days a week to be able to put me through private school, she would come home tired and we really did not have a lot of time to talk and discuss how I was feeling.
I hated the middle school I was going too but I knew how hard my mother was working to be able to pay for it so that I could get a better education. I believe that class played a role in this because I was going to a private (since the public middle schools in my district weren't the best) my mom had to pay for me to go there. She was a single mom and she worked as much as she could to pay the tuition. I'm sure that if maybe we had more money, my mom would be able to pay for it without any problems so she wouldn't have to work so much and spend more time with me and my sister.
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Thursday, September 6, 2018
Blog Post #2
After reading through the article Youth Development Guide here is what I knew, learned and want to learn more of:
Know:
- Resilience Research
- School, home and community environments influence and affect a youth's development
Learned:
- The Deficit Approach: programs designed to "fix" specific problems like drug abuse among youth and teen pregnancy.
- After School Programs growth
Want to know more of:
- Youth development movement
- The shift in policy that got rid of focused programming and was more focused on youth development approaches
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Blog Post #1: DownCity Design
After looking through the syllabus carefully, I came upon a certain art piece that really caught my attention.
Since this picture caught my attention, I did some research on the organization and here is what I found:
Providence Public Library Teen Space
Ellery Park Play Village
In this picture, you can see a group of young adults who seem to be working together to build something. I checked out the link on the syllabus and it turns out that these youth are actually working together to build a new playground for an urban elementary school in the south side of Providence.
The picture is not really an "artwork" that was painted by someone else but it does send a strong message to its audience. It shows how a community project has brought together a group of young adults to work together and give back to their community. The picture shows dedication, values, teamwork, and most importantly hard work.
This picture caught my attention because Fall 2017 and Spring 2018, I was able to complete 45+ hours of volunteer/practicum work at Charles Fortes Elementary school, which happens to be right next to Leviton Elementry School where this playground was built. It warmed my heart to know that these youth were able to provide such an amazing structure for these children who might not have access to free play when they are out of school hours.
- DownCity Design was founded in 2009 by Adrienne Gagnon and Manuel Cordero.
- Their mission was to improve Providence spaces by engaging youth to design and build solutions for their communities.
- Since their finding, DownCity Design has improved the lives of over 1,200 youth by engaging them in the community and the spaces they work in.
DownCity Design has over 50 projects in which they have created playgrounds, bike racks, benches, shelves, greenhouses and much more artwork all throughout the city of Providence.
Below are some pictures of other projects that they have been a part of, and a link to their website:
Leviton Elementary Play Pavilion
Providence Public Library Teen Space
Ellery Park Play Village
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