What's The Tee (in YDEV)?

Referring to AYO NYC!'s "kill the cop in our heads," I felt a sense of relief. This idea of leading with love and light made me feel seen as a youth worker, and as an adult. As I skimmed through their workbook in preparation for my group's facilitation, I felt like this was the missing piece to the puzzle in my professional career. How do I lead with light? As explored in the week prior, authenticity plays a huge part in the development of effective and long-lasting relationships with youth. However, this can only be developed through care. For instance, in Rita Pierson's TED Talk, shown in our presentation, she states... Kids don't learn from people they don't like.   That resonated with me because I feel like that is something I lived by, swore by, and portrayed in the work I did at College Visions. Working with high school aged youth really put into perspective the importance of healing. A holistic approach to each student was something I prioritized to...

I'm focusing this reflection on the Critical Reflections on Tensions in Authentic Youth-Adult Partnerships reading, most importantly because of my experience with community-based youth organizations (CBYOs). CBYOs are significant spaces for holistic youth development, most especially because they foster academic, social, and political empowerment (particularly for communities of color). The three main tensions that the authors explored really resonated with me due to the fact I've experienced them first-hand.  1. Youth are a socially constructed category. They're often seen through hierarchical lenses that view them as lacking agency, making them feel less than, especially in relationships with adults. I feel as though this mindset hinders genuine partnerships between youth and adults. 2. Youth are seen through a deficit-based lens. This lens definitely constrains their potential to do and become anything, truly.  3. Youth are affected by funding constraints. These dynami...

The introduction to Pleasure Activism  by Adrienne Maree Brown explores the transformtive potential of centering pleasure in activism, which is something I really resonate with. In my opinion, Brown defines pleasure  as a sort of human right and key measure of freedom, which also asserts that reclaiming joy and satisfaction oppressive systems is both healing and liberating. I feel like the content, between essays, interviews, and reflections, helped me understand how pleasure could intersect with personal, communal, and systemic liberation. Something that also resonated with me is the belief that pursuing pleasure is a radical act that sort of dismantles oppressive structures and promotes justice. I feel this way because radicalism isn't easy, and pursuing pleasure in protest isn't either. It's almost as radical as the saying "kill them with kindness." Reflecting on this, it pushes me to think about how my desires to pursue pleasure can reduce shame and foster aut...

I was evaluated for and diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) at the age of 8-years-old. By definition, OCD is a mental health condition that causes people to experience recurring thoughts and behaviors they can't control. It can cause significant distress and oftentimes interferes with someone's daily life. At the age of 8-years-old, I should have been worrying about when my mom was picking me up from soccer practice rather than why each blade of grass was cut differently and how I could make them all the same. I felt different; I was different. I remember waking up every day and refolding the clothes my mom had set out for me before putting them on. I remember saying "goodnight" three times before bed each and every night. I remember turning my pages to write sideways to ensure I didn't smudge my fingers with led. These were all things that, if interrupted, would drive me crazy. In 2011, during my SAT's, I had the biggest break down of my life. ...