Blog 10- What felt close? What felt far away?

 While reading, "Whose Security is it Anyway? Excerpts from the Toolkit" by Brooks and Kaba, there were a few bullet points that I felt resonated with me more than others. 

Passages that felt "close"- 

1. "Document and process daily. Create an efficient method to discuss youth participants, areas of concern, and opportunities for growth and learning" (Brooks and Kaba). 

2. "Provide youth with a packet of referrals and resources when a consequence-. involving · time out of the space-has been decided" (Brooks and Kaba). 

3. "Host weekly community meetings with space for young people to discuss · issues related to the space, accessibility, and resources. Receive this feedback with open hearts and minds~-it is a great sign of investment when young people take time to offer feedback and critiques to help us evaluate our programs and services" (Brooks and Kaba). 

4. "Redefine engagement to include space for resting, self-care, and community care. Let us eliminate this. idea that young people are "doing nothing" in our spaces. No young person is doing nothing when they are surviving, 24-7" (Brooks and Kaba).

I personally feel as though it would be extremely beneficial for youth to have a space where they could express their thoughts and feelings (without being judged) and receiving feedback that isn't diminishing those thoughts and feelings. That would be a great way for youth to feel included and have a sense of belonging in the space. Of course they need to be surrounded by staff that are supportive and non judgmental. Someone with whom the youth have a connection to and feel that they can trust. Also acknowledging youths hard work that is both visible (and in some cases, not always shown). Giving youth time to rest, relax and "chillax"!


Passage that felt "far away"

1. "If you are forced to leave a building or. program by staff or on-site security guards, follow up with a staff person that you. trust. Do not return to the building. They may try to arrest you when you return" (Brooks and Kaba). 

This passage was very useful to know about, I felt as though I did learn a strategy, however, reading it still didn't sit the best with me. Mostly because I've witnessed a colleague being kicked out of a school building in an unsettling way. This person had caused no trouble nor harm to anyone in the building and was still treated harshly. I'll never forget that day and never forget the pain and distress from both my colleague and the youth around us. 

Comments

  1. Victoria RestlerDecember 3, 2020 at 7:56 AM

    Thank you for this careful reflection on the Kaba and Brooks article Tamera--and for sharing your personal reflections and connections. The story you share about your colleague sounds deeply upsetting.

    ReplyDelete

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