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YDEV 501: Blog Post #10

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 ensure the year went by the right way, and not just the smooth way. But what does healing have to do with youth development? Social justice?

Oftentimes, youth, especially those who are marginalized, are "dealt with" rather than "cared for." This thought in itself already inequitable and perpetuates a punitive mindset. During my time at College Visions, I worked hard to develop and foster a space that was the total opposite of that. Justice comes from joy.

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