The Edmond

I must start this blog with a question. What if youth spaces were nonexistent? There is so much onus put on youth organizations where at times they are held as safe havens and sometimes the cure-all for today's youth. In the article "Chillaxing" most of the students found the New Urban Arts to be a safe place where they can be creative and more importantly be themselves. On the other hand, some students found the NUA to be space where they issues were magnified due to the embodiment of the matter at hand. But as youth enter the doors of a youth programs the internal struggle, ills and issues that they have enters with them. As youth become more mature and develop the articulation to speak up and ask for assistance in their immediate settings, they will have less pressure. What does that mean? Utilizing their first contact such as their parents or other authoritative figures in their life to get burning questions answered about life. Gr...

My very first reflection of the readings was the utilization of hip hop music to connect with the students. Utilizing the voice of hip hop is an incredible way to communicate with today’s youth, it serves as a voice of connectiveness. It solidifies to the youth that as adults we are in tune with pop culture and it makes today's topics much more relatable. Shirley Steinberg and Priya Parmar stepped into a youth space using a vehicle such as hip hop to bridge the gap of literacy as well as an ice breaker that would be everlasting. Once the ice breaker was established the ladies were able to state their identities regarding their race with ease. Shirley Steinberg was received by humorous remark by one student and at that point she was a shoe it. I often found making a first impression very challenging upon introducing myself to a new youth space and as I reflect upon my first encounters it was very scary. There was the fear of being rejected or challenged by the youth due to their tru...