Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Blog post #3 on Nakkula and Toshalis

10 vocabulary words I do not know:
  1. Cordial 
  2. Maligned
  3. Indebted
  4. Lackluster
  5. Integral
  6. Construe
  7. Pathologized
  8. Parameters
  9. Litany
  10. Interpersonal

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Ten People who have coauthored me:

My life story consists of these very people that I have listed. Some have supported me while I was in school, specifically towards my academics, some have taken care of me since birth, and some have just impacted my life positively.

Jesus Christ
When I became a Christian, everything changed for the better. I started to embrace the leader that I was born to be, I stopped following the wrong crowd, and I have a better heart for people. God has helped me get through many tough times in my life, and I can truly say that he is a friend of mine.

Mom
She has been this role-model to me for the longest. She shows me what it means to be a strong woman, and to pursue your dreams first before pursuing other things that can wait. She picks me up when I'm down, wipes my tears, makes me laugh, changed my diapers (LOL), but most importantly...she is a mother to me.

Dad
My dad is one of the best fathers in the entire world. He's such a great listener, and always makes me feel like if I need help, that he is always gonna be there. My dad has just shown me in life, that no matter how bad your day may be, it is still a blessed day. My dad goes through a lot at work, and for him to say that, it has reminded me to be grateful for every day that I am living.

Sister
My sister is the other part of me. If she was never born, my life would be boring. When I am hurting, she hurts, when I don't want anything to do with people, she doesn't leave my side. I love my sister, and she always gives me good advice, and reminds me that I can do anything that I put my mind to.

Grandma (Dad's mom)
My grandma is very special to me. She makes me feel loved, even though I know am, and I hope to pass on the love, warmth, and kindness that she shows me. She is part of the reason as to why I am the kind of person to reach out to others wholeheartedly and to check on them, and see how they are doing.

Dominque (best friend)
Although we aren't in contact anymore, I do miss her. She has taught me that having your friend's back is what makes a friendship stronger.

Pastor (Papa)
My pastor teaches me about leadership. He has taught me to speak up for what I know is right, and to be bold when needed. He is like a grandfather to me also, because he was their for me and my family when my mom was in the hospital. He treats us like family :) My pastor is always there when I need wisdom for my leadership position on campus. Everything that I am learning from him, it makes me grow maturely in my faith.

Uncle Ricky
My Uncle Ricky, too, has encouraged me in my walk of faith, Before he passed away, he was the kind of guy that always cheered you up. It was his love and kindness that reminds me to be like he was...loving and kind to others.

Sis. Mary
This woman is like an auntie to me. She is charitable to others, even if she is short on things herself. I learn from her to help others joyfully, to give with joy, and help others.

Ms. Rush (my 5th grade teacher)
My teacher was very comforting. Just like my mom, I felt I could run to her when I was sad. I just hope to be the same way for someone else.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Blog #4 Tedtalk

BLOG #4 on Hobson TED Talk:  Have you ever felt invisible?  Does Hobson help you think about visibility in any new ways?  Be specific in naming and explaining her arguments, and then relate her words to your own life history.  How might a youth space like YIA — where youth “share their stories, practice leadership and create change in their communities” — be an antidote to invisibility?

Image result for have you ever felt invisible There were times that I guess you could say I felt invisible, especially when it comes to race. I am a Latina and Black, and there were times where I didn't even fit in with my own race. I didn't feel accepted, because I was somewhere in the middle. I wasn't 100% Black or 100% Spanish. I was just awkwardly in the middle. I found myself trying to be more of this race and that race, but I times I wasn't just being me. After watching Ms. Hobson's TED talk video, I have realized that being invisible can involve race and many other things. Her presentation on being "color brave" and not color blind was spectacular. Now, I am not one to sit through a video, unless I am very interested, but this video has helped prepare me for the professional world. I love talking about the importance of race equality and making a difference, because there were definitely instances where people have said offensive things about my own races, whether it was towards Latinos or Blacks. I was intrigued to here Ms. Hobson talk about how someone thought she was to be of service, versus being someone of a higher up. Ms. Hobson asked "When can we also think it is weird to see all white people in a setting compared to black people?" and that made me realize how often these thoughts occur in the minds of people. I want to be a part of the change where in the next generation, you will see more diversity in big companies, law offices, state houses, and so forth. Ms. Hobson reminded me that their is power in my words, and that I could inspire someone to seek greater things in life just like her mother did for her. My family always backed me up in whatever I aspired to do with my life, and that's something that I will forever appreciate. Now, it's definitely time for me to pay it forward to the next generation. A place like Youth In Action provides a space to empower youth for a greater responsibility...change. If there are kids, like Ms. Hobson,who have experienced a lack of acceptance, then the YIA is a place for youth to use their voices so that these issues can be heard. This can be an antidote to invisibility.
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Blog #4 Tedtalk

BLOG #4 on Hobson TED Talk:  Have you ever felt invisible?  Does Hobson help you think about visibility in any new ways?  Be specific in naming and explaining her arguments, and then relate her words to your own life history.  How might a youth space like YIA — where youth “share their stories, practice leadership and create change in their communities” — be an antidote to invisibility?

Image result for have you ever felt invisible I don't believe that I ever felt like this guy in the picture (invisible), but I did want to fit in. However, I knew I existed, and I used my talents to get out in the open. When I am asked "Have I ever felt invisible?", I can't really say that I have. After watching Ms. Hobson's TED talk video, I have realized that being invisible can involve race and many other things. Her presentation on being "color brave" and not color blind was spectacular. Now, I am not one to sit through a video, unless I am very interested, but this video has helped prepare me for the professional world. I love talking about the importance of race equality and making a difference, because there were definitely instances where people have said offensive things about my own races, whether it was towards Latinos or Blacks. I was intrigued to here Ms. Hobson talk about how someone thought she was to be of service, versus being someone of a higher up. Ms. Hobson asked "When can we also think it is weird to see all white people in a setting compared to black people?" and that made me realize how often these thoughts occur in the minds of people. I want to be a part of the change where in the next generation, you will see more diversity in big companies, law offices, state houses, and so forth. Ms. Hobson reminded me that their is power in my words, and that I could inspire someone to seek greater things in life just like her mother did for her. My family always backed me up in whatever I aspired to do with my life, and that's something that I will forever appreciate. Now, it's definitely time for me to pay it forward to the next generation. A place like Youth In Action provides a space to empower youth for a greater responsibility...change. If there are kids, like Ms. Hobson,who have experienced a lack of acceptance, then the YIA is a place for youth to use their voices so that these issues can be heard. This can be an antidote to invisibility.
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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Blog #2 (YIA)

There was one story specifically that I identified with, and that was the story of a women, who is the Executive Director, who made it to Brown University. When I got my acceptance letter to college, I felt like I accomplished something, and was taking my education to the next level. However, I learned what I had to learn in order to pass the class, which was the same mentality I had in high school. It wasn't until I was in my junior year in college that I began to realize that all of the things that I am learning, could be applied to in the real world. I decided to take what I have learned involving music, and to give it back to my community. I never took the time to dig deep and work on what I loved to do the most, which was music. I regret not being able to say "I was a part of chorus in high school." or "I was in a musical." I want to take what I have been taught and help prepare the next generation to go after their dreams, while I am going after mine. YIA models the notion of "Leading With..." by showing that their youth are the leaders, but they work together. No one leads on their own, but they work together. I remember reading about how each person on staff working at YIA gets a chance to be told their strengths and weaknesses. As for me personally, the last thing I want is for a group of people to tell me what I'm doing wrong and what I need to work on, and then make me feel better by telling me my strengths. I would be very uncomfortable, but I do see the proactive part of this activity, which is to build community and trust among themselves. If trusting the very ones who are close to you to tell you the truth about yourself, pushes you to greater heights in life, then that is where this can help promote growth in a work setting with the workers altogether.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Blog Post #1

The seven characteristics of Youth Work are:

  1. Educational practice
  2. Social practice
  3. Challenging inequality and work towards social justice
  4. Where possible, young people choose to be involved
  5. Strengthening the voice and influence of young people
  6. Welfare practice
  7. Works with young people 'holistically'
(1) When it comes to the education of our youth today, the Youth Work field primarily focuses on where the child is at academically versus where they need to be. We youth workers create ways to help the child grow in his/her education. A youth worker also gets involved with the youth outside of school to help them with their social abilities in the world. We promote growth in the child socially and academically while preparing them for the real world as they continue to grow. (2) Speaking of promoting the child socially, we youth workers help the youth by giving them advice and positive guidance. Youth work is truly a social practice, because we encourage the child to work on their relationship skills in another setting without us being there, therefore promoting self-confidence and boldness. (3) One of the most important things that we youth workers absolutely pursue is social justice. I believe that it is vital to teach a child the importance, and having the knowledge, of what is just and to stand up for it. Being a youth worker isn't about teaching our youth the difference between right and wrong, especially involving oppression and power, but we teach the importance of standing up for what you believe in. (4) The fact of the matter is that a youth worker is an important being in a child's life. We play a very important role when it comes to helping the youth understand how to take what they've learned in school and to apply it in their everyday lives...pretty much the real world. Knowledge is power, so our jobs as youth workers are to show the youth that your learning does not have to stop when you leave school, but that there is plenty to learn from whether it is from our social environment or academic life. Of course the child has little to say about whether they want to go to school, because they are forced to go, but we youth workers become a part of what they learn in school, while guiding, mentoring, and supporting them throughout their journey. (5) We youth workers take the time, while guiding the child, to help them find their voice and to prepare them to make a difference in the world they live in. We remind them that the things they are learning in school can be used to raise their voices to create positive change. (6) Youth work does not only motivate kids to make something of themselves, but we also take the time to see how they are doing. We believe that what a child may be going through can affect his/her outcome in their only lives, whether that means personal problems, failures, etc. We take on the challenge of working with youth who may need an extra push despite their circumstances. (7) We youth workers work holistically with youth involving their school life and personal life. We take on the challenge of crossing social work with the educational field of work by supporting, encouraging, and challenging our youth to remain strong during difficult times. Our jobs as youth workers are not babysitting jobs, but are very important when it comes to the lives of our youth. We make a difference when we become the bridge over troubled waters between the educational life and social life for our youth.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Who am I?

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Image result for tree with rootsImage result for soul food                Image result for the cross



I believe that music is powerful! My family and my roots are important to me.
Who doesn't love a home cooked meal? But what's most important to me, is Jesus Christ! My faith in God keeps me strong!