Let’s dream and envision programs and services where Black youth are not experiencing anti-Black racism. How might we move beyond identifying the service needs and gaps Black youth face, to pro-actively designing pathways to inclusion in the youth sector?

  • Let’s dream and envision programs and services where Black youth are not experiencing anti-Black racism. How might we move beyond identifying the service needs and gaps Black youth face, to pro-actively designing pathways to inclusion in the youth sector?

    Salma replied 4 days, 9 hours ago 144 Members · 191 Replies
  • Kristen

    Member
    April 20, 2023 at 1:47 pm

    I think that to be pro-active in designing programs, we need to include Black youth in the conversation. Where many of our programs are Eurocentric, we need to give Black youth the chance to have their voices heard, and really listen to their experiences. We also need to include ABR training for all staff – and not just a one and done training. Our views change as we age and learn more, so the training needs to be reoccurring.

  • Kathe

    Member
    March 2, 2023 at 11:03 am

    ICYMI, I wanted to share a few resources that we’ve recently added to the Knowledge Hub; these resources explore barriers and facilitators to mental health for Black youth, as well as pathways to inclusion and support:

    1) Factors that Impact How Black Youth Access the Mental Healthcare System in Ontario

    This 2022 Pathways to Care report builds on the work of Fatimah Jackson‑Best (from Module 2 of Centering Black Youth Wellbeing) and Tiyondah Fante-Coleman to provide an overview of findings from focus groups to learn first-hand what the challenges are for Black youth attempting to access care. They also identify what Black youth, their communities, and service providers thought were the solutions to increasing access to care.

    2) Factors That Contribute to the Mental Health of Black Youth

    This YouthREX resource summarizes a 2022 community-based participatory action research project with Black youth in Alberta, Canada, and shares how the findings are critical to youth work practice.

    3) TAKE 5: Black Youth Mental Health

    This YouthREX Factsheet outlines five key messages shared by Mercy Shibemba, an award-winning youth activist from the UK, in her opening keynote for our Beyond Invisible: Black Youth Mental Health Teach-In in October 2022.

    Remember, you can always see what’s new to the Knowledge Hub by visiting our Featured Collection, updated monthly! 💻📚🤓

  • Amina Kay

    Member
    January 31, 2023 at 11:09 pm

    The first step to pro-actively designing pathways to inclusion in the youth sector is to make anti-black racism training programs mandatory for all youth workers from teachers to community center workers. It is also necessary for the youth sector to have specific anti-black racism policies that have consequences and are taken as seriously as bullying or sexual harassment.

  • Nimra

    Member
    January 31, 2023 at 5:23 pm

    As discussed in the lecture videos, ability criteria, hiring processes for youth jobs, etc. should not be based according to the white eligibility criterion. Black youth lived experiences and their challenges should be kept in mind and more inclusive approaches should be developed.

  • Mehret

    Member
    January 31, 2023 at 3:45 pm

    Designing, creating, and offering spaces, services, programs for Black youth by Black youth. This can be done by actively engaging Black youth and their voices in the creation and implementation of services and programs, advocating for the resources needed to effectively do this work, and holding ourselves accountable to avoid “lip service” and the “tokenization” of Black youth, but also holding Black youth accountable to their full potential and power so they actively engage in challenging the sector to create pathways for their full inclusion and participation. The work is done as much for Black youth as it is by Black youth, and that’s the piece around empowerment, raising critical consciousness, and providing the pathway for Black youth to be active change agents in their lives, their communities, and society as whole.

  • Charnjot

    Member
    January 30, 2023 at 10:36 pm

    I believe that the term “power” is frequently dismissed in discussions like these. In traditional bureaucratic organizations, where power frequently has greater influence, it is extremely difficult to support Black youth or people of color. Although it is evident that power always prevails when it comes to making decisions, it is difficult to discuss oppression or discrimination. However, collaboration and teamwork absolutely need to be at the forefront. I believe that we ought to take into account our place in society as well as the ways in which our power, status, age, or color have an impact on those around us.

  • Eugenia

    Member
    January 30, 2023 at 12:36 pm

    Collaboration and teamwork are always good elements when we need to accomplish a goal. the combination of expertise that Black youth can provide, and the clinical framework/lenses through which we analyze issue represent the key factors to design pathways of inclusion. We need to listen to the experience of Black individuals that experience oppression and/or discrimination in their lives. However, this knowledge needs to be processed through clinical lenses that allow us to develop an effective way to work for the Black population. I believe that looking into gaps and service need means looking closer to the matter and having open and authentic conversations that allow us to think out of the box and reaching or discover ways to include Black youth at different levels.

  • Jess

    Member
    January 29, 2023 at 7:26 pm

    This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. I believe that, similar to a decolonizing approach, the aim of creating a truly anti-oppressive program or service needs to be present from the inception of a program/service. Programs that are created with community consultation, ones that privilege community voices in the planning, implementation, hiring, and facilitation are most likely to achieve this goal. Too often community feedback is an afterthought when it should be the very foundation of how initiatives are developed. That being said, I believe this process of community input and development can happen with existing programs as well. Black youth, parents, families, community members, youth workers, all need to be included every step of the way in either the creation or reform of programs and services. To borrow from the disability movement the tenant of “nothing about us, without us” must be a core belief that creates the foundation of all work we do with any population that has been impacted by structural oppression.

    • Elizabeth

      Member
      January 30, 2023 at 10:48 am

      I totally agree with your perspective. It is not enough to request feedback at one stage of program design or delivery. Community consultation and collaboration is key to ensure our programs are truly designed and delivered in an anti-racist/anti-oppressive way. I also think we need to rethink how we gather feedback- it is not enough to put a call out and when we don’t get the response we want forge ahead with our plans. We need to examine why our evaluation tools/approaches may not be working in the first place and be flexible to make the necessary changes in order to hear from the communities we serve.

      • Jess

        Member
        January 30, 2023 at 5:56 pm

        Thanks for your reply. I absolutely agree! Too often I’ve seen organizations (especially well-established ones) perform allyship and ABR even as they hand-wave away a lack of community feedback as “oh well, we tried”. As you said, it’s critical to look at why we’re not receiving feedback or why folks don’t want to engage. Are there barriers? A history of or ongoing harm from the organization/program? A pattern of feedback-seeking followed by inaction? What needs to be done to ensure reparations are made and Black community members’ voices are actually heard?

  • Aldith

    Member
    January 29, 2023 at 5:54 pm

    Designing youth centred programs and services requires youth involvement from conception to inception to evaluation. Too often youth input is gathered in things like focus groups, they get some token of thanks, then the “adults” run with the information.

    • Abena

      Member
      January 30, 2023 at 11:33 pm

      I agree! I also think that organizations need to be more innovative when approaching evaluation and feedback. Focus groups and surveys are great tools but they may not be capturing the true impact of certain programing. There may be value in exploring arts-based forms of data collection and research like the use of photovoice to capture youth needs, frustrations, satisfactions, etc. This may be a way to gather information while still engaging in dialogue that centers the youth themselves and values their authentic expression.

  • Natalee

    Member
    January 27, 2023 at 11:51 pm

    I think to do this organzations have to start to collaborate. As well, more funding needs to go into programs that support Black youth.

  • Holly

    Member
    January 27, 2023 at 10:46 am

    My thoughts are to re-evaluate how we connect with families and communities to have a greater voice and this process would support us to meet the diverse and real-lived experiences of these communities as opposed to offering solutions based on preconceived ideas/notions. There isn’t one solution but it’s about being intentional about what advocacy looks like and being very inclusive and giving these the communities the opportunity to lead the conversation. When we create a framework that truly involves the communities it impacts, it will have a great impact because it is informed will better help to shift and inform the conversation and shift the direction. Creating safe spaces is key and it starts by building that trust and appreciation for the lived experiences that these communities face.

  • Stephanie

    Member
    January 23, 2023 at 4:11 pm

    So many great comments already! I love the idea of partnering with youth – centering their ideas, their needs, their strengths. I think an important part is working from an Afrocentric lens and the centering of culture, community and identity at each step and level – making shifts at both micro and macro levels

  • Catherine

    Member
    January 23, 2023 at 10:02 am

    I’m not sure I have anything new to add after reading through the comments. I agree that there should be Black folks in levels of leadership and within front line staff working with youth. And I love the ideas of involving youth in policy making and creating programs to share their opinions through art, photovoice pieces, surveys etc. I think it would be a great opportunity for youth to be paid for their work, their knowledge, their ideas and voices.

  • Andrew

    Member
    January 20, 2023 at 11:26 am

    Drawing a little on what some other folks have said, I’m imagining an organization that has hired Black folks to all levels of staff and management, and which has partnered with organizations that serve Black youth. I agree with Lux NLN in imagining an organization where Black staff thrive, which I think is important for Black youth to thrive, as well. Black youth are consulted on program development – whether or not the programs are meant to serve Black youth specifically – including in the co-design of youth-led programs, which provide opportunities for leadership. And of course, doing all of this from an empowering strengths-based framework, as Danica Fisher said.

  • Theresa

    Member
    January 9, 2023 at 10:35 am

    The systemic issues identified are very real for many marginalized people and as such we need to change the narrative that we share with them. They have heard it all before and it becomes a echo in the background of what they expect life to be. So we have to help in the reeducation of our selfies that we do not propagate the old narratives “if you work hard you can overcome” etc. We have to call a spade a spade and help others to see that we ourselves along with them are carrying on the same way of doing business of treating people with the colonial mentality that we have been taught. Having a critical mind to challenge the status quo to ask questions, not to be disruptive but to say how does this serve our clients are we adding more burden or are we allowing for a more integrated process for the individual. Its not just what is presented but the whole picture of what makes the client with all else that they have been burdened with ( their invisible backpack). Its not a one solution for all. We are not able to have successful treatment if we do not build relationships with clients. Client centered meaning understand the ins and outs. Policies that allows youth workers to help the youth establish meaningful relationships within the community that allows them to see themselves in positive roles. So much more to say on this topic…

  • Lux

    Member
    January 8, 2023 at 5:45 pm

    It is having a space where they not only see Black staff, but Black leadership, folks supported to make the change Black and other racialized communities have been talking about forever. It means creating an environment where Black staff and leadership thrive, rather than saddled with the role of “fixing” all the systemic, structural, and interpersonal racism present before they were hired or promoted. It is leaders holding ourselves accountable to change. I don’t think we can create environment that are inclusive of communities who aren’t included in the workspace.

    • Aldith

      Member
      January 29, 2023 at 5:43 pm

      Well said!!

      Representation matters, so having Black involvement in all roles, at all levels, is crucial. I might add, having Black youth participation at all levels would be especially impactful. It would bring accountability to the organization to implement the identified measures, and it would be inspiring to other youth who see their peers making a difference that directly affects them.

    • Danielle

      Member
      January 17, 2023 at 3:02 pm

      Agreed. I think leadership on all levels is needed. Not just free leadership like volunteers but paid leadership.

    • Melissa

      Member
      January 17, 2023 at 11:33 am

      These are my thoughts exactly, Lux NLN.

      I think we need spaces to celebrate Black knowledge and culture. Where all can see the beauty and benefit of having different perspectives.

  • Allison

    Member
    January 7, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    It would be so wonderful if the voices of today’s youth were utilized to help us formulate policies and develop a better framework that supports all of the varying needs of today. I think that the privilege of working with children or young adults also gives us the opportunity to better advocate for those voices. It is so important to make connections with families and communities to better support today’s youth, but I also consider that when it comes to intersectionality the needs become more complex, the risks for that individual are higher, and it does not necessarily mean that any community in particular has all of the necessary resources to best support the person in need. It is because of this that we must listen to the voices of today’s youth to better understand how we can support them, and give them a platform to be heard. There is a lot of risk for marginalized individuals when they speak out against oppression. As a teacher or youth worker the best way for children to feel safe in this ever-changing world is to advocate for those voices so they don’t have to put themselves at risk.

  • Opal Adriana

    Member
    January 6, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    Moving beyond does take participation, this participation on a active voice should be in the creation process of public policies, servicies, action plans and frameworks. Youth should be taken on this process not only as receivers but as creators. Also including the intersectionality as we create new pathways on this important matter.

    • mandaxrosa

      Member
      January 17, 2023 at 1:21 pm

      Policies play a big part in this. These pathways should have been in the works for years prior.

    • Catherine

      Member
      January 13, 2023 at 12:28 pm

      I couldn’t agree more with you! Black youth should be involved in every step of our program making. They are more than able to co-create and co-facilitate programs in their community. As youth workers, we need to make sure that we follow them and that we provide them with tools that can empower them. We also need to make sure that our organizations and our staff get regular training in anti-racist and anti-oppression practices, and that our policies reflect that. It is especially important that youth can see Black people at all levels in our organizations, including leadership.

  • Leandre

    Member
    January 5, 2023 at 6:26 pm

    This is a great question and I’m sure it’s been answered in a variety of ways but I think including the voices of Black youth (co-creating / designing these pathways with them), operating from an asset based approach, utilizing research can help us design better pathways for black you. Further not to say, Black Excellence is what every Black person should aspire to but for those Black people that have achieved excellence it would be worth knowing (1) more about the environment/conditions to support their success, and (2) the skillset and competencies they leaned on the most.

    • Liz

      Member
      January 10, 2023 at 4:41 pm

      I came here to say something similar! And to also show that we value their time in the co-creation process by providing them with honorariums, etc. I would want to find the balance between co-creating with them (to center their voices) and making additional work for them. So yes if there was some way to show their time is valued as they are the experts…would be ideal.

      • Jordan

        Member
        January 17, 2023 at 2:25 pm

        I completely agree. It’s important that knowledge creation is done with Black youth rather than just about them. I very much appreciate the idea of valuing Black youth’s time, efforts, and knowledge and offering concrete compensation for their work. Co-creation needs to benefit Black youth rather than asking for unpaid and unacknowledged work.

      • Lewis

        Member
        January 14, 2023 at 1:40 am

        This resonates really with my thoughts. Let recognize and promote Black Excellence and create room for those that have excelled to mentor others.

        • Emily

          Member
          January 17, 2023 at 2:18 pm

          Agreed! One way I have seen this done in research/program development settings is through doing interviews with youth either in focus group, photovoice research, arts-based activities, or in individual interviews. Marginalized youth help co-create or modify programming by voicing their opinions anonymously through these interviews. I especially have appreciated collaborative opportunities such as these so that youth have a variety of ways to voice their opinions that are not strictly surveys (especially arts based activities). It makes research and co-creation more accessible for the various needs and time they may have available.

          • Saskia

            Member
            January 23, 2023 at 9:06 pm

            I fully agree and appreciate all of these messages. I believe that they truly encompass what this module was all about – listening to what the youth’s opinions and ideas are instead of guessing and forcing our own biases and point of view onto them. Making space for them to voice their own opinions in multiple ways and formats and being able to listen to them and apply them in the appropriate ways.

  • Yasmein

    Member
    January 5, 2023 at 1:42 pm

    Need to build and invest in people. Skills and resources allocation for the Black youth that empowers them to lead a life they where options and opportunities for them to choose and not feel like they have limited options.

  • Justin

    Member
    December 21, 2022 at 6:39 pm

    well, we could start by ensuring that youth workers are adequately trained on anti-Black racism and its implications for the services they deliver. This training should not be a one-time experience but an ongoing process of deepening understanding and practice of anti-racist approaches to youth work. In addition, youth organizations should provide meaningful pathways for Black youth to become involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of their services.

  • Tracey-Ann

    Member
    December 18, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    Moving beyond identifying the service needs and gaps Black youth face to proactively designing pathways to inclusion in the youth sector needs a holistic approach. Additionally, social professionals need to be inclusive by collaborating the knowledge, ideas, requests, etc, of Black youths into services provided. This is essential for providing services to Black youths, because Black youths are experts of their own experiences.

  • Danica

    Member
    December 18, 2022 at 10:08 am

    I believe this work must start as early as possible and working intentionally from a strength-based perspective. Black children must have their feelings, thoughts and opinions validated by the all their caring adults, including teachers, childcare workers, coaches, club leaders and family members. We must help the child figure out how they are most confortable expressing themselves, be it through spoken language, writing, visual art, movement, etc. and help the child discover how empowering this communication can be. We thereby help to create self-confident and effective communicators. If we combine this with the development of leadership qualities through mentorship and training opportunities, once these kids reach adolescence, they are well-equiped to participate actively in the planning and design of supports and services that truly meet their needs. They will be empowered to participate in discussions with peers, educators, health-care providers and community leaders.

  • Trai Patrick

    Member
    December 17, 2022 at 4:11 pm

    I think it stems down to getting youth input. Surveying and asking black youth what programs they feel are needed and that they will use that they feel are beneficial. In this module, we learn about listening and hearing what youth have to say instead of imposing our biases on them. With listening, we retract the need to share our experiences, which can take away from the youth’s experiences. Also, listening would allow us as youth workers to hear what program could be beneficial to the black youth population. Implementation is a big part. We can create all these programs but we need to make them attractive for black youth to use them and understand how they can benefit from them.

  • Meighan

    Member
    December 16, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    I believe that hiring more black individuals would allow for more diversity and inclusion, and a sense of safety for black youth. I also believe that training non-black individuals on black individuals history, current struggles etc. will support positive change.

  • Alyssa

    Member
    July 16, 2022 at 11:50 am

    When I dream of programs for Black youth, I dream of hope and resistance. I dream of educating Black students on their right to freedom. I dream of creating art, music, and poetry that exudes Black joy and resistance. I dream of my queer Black students finding themselves and living in their truth. I dream of a programming that is accepting of and takes into consideration ALL Black lives.

    • Sarah

      Member
      January 22, 2023 at 9:59 pm

      Love your response. I think we are limiting our vision if we restrict our lens to ‘programs’, ‘services’ and ‘sectors’. Addressing anti-Black racism and working alongside and in support of Black youth requires that we work across sectors and beyond the traditional boundaries and logics of our roles and official mandates of our organizations. I echo others who have talked about the need for a holistic approach. I would also call for a responsive approach that accounts for and is accountable to the unique needs, hopes and visions of individuals, groups and communities. If we invite Black youth to tell us what they need, hope for, dream for, and demand, we need to be prepared to respond in ways that may not align with how our organizations have traditionally operated. It’s not enough to invite participation and improve representation in our organizations if we aren’t prepared to change our practices in response.

    • Nicole

      Member
      December 7, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      I love this response Alyssa. I think that this is such an important question to ask and your response resonates for me.

  • Joanne

    Member
    July 15, 2022 at 6:27 pm

    When I dream/envision this it’s important that the administration I work with support by creating spaces of diversity AND inclusion. So far, this past year, there were improvements regarding hiring so we have better representation but sadly these individuals were not invited to many of the decision making tables. In order to have voices be heard they need to be included in the discussions and it’s pretty much necessary that final decisions don’t get to move along unless approved by someone who’s had this training!

  • Tami

    Member
    July 13, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    I have read all the responses and they are phenomenal!!!!

  • Adrienne

    Member
    July 13, 2022 at 2:23 pm

    Thanks for posing this question! One structure that I have found to embed youth within organizations to influence decision making is through youth advisory boards/councils/groups. Of course, these programs are susceptible to the same power structures and harmful normative practice that tokenize and de-value youth voice. However, with careful and intentional planning this structure can be used to involve uplift Black youth voice within organizations and systems that impact them and shift power to Black youth in decision making. These structures should prioritize Black youth in order to best understand the actual function of organizations.

    • Kate

      Member
      December 6, 2022 at 11:49 am

      I agree with you, youth leadership opportunities have a profound impact on positive mental health and well-being. Prioritizing leadership opportunities for Black youth is one positive change that we have made at our school.

  • Maureen

    Member
    July 13, 2022 at 11:38 am

    I wanted to share my “thinking out loud with members together” on 2 areas- thinking about the first part of the question that is posed to us and, wonder about the challenge posed in the second part of the question if that makes sense. Unsoo- thank-you for that important reminder of connecting lived experiences of “adult” or “youth mentors” into the kinds of supports we hope to provide youth as they are making their way. Would it be fair to suggest that these mentors would want to be aware not to “label” their experiences having been “the same”, but could be similar, so they don’t say necessarily “I know what you are experiencing”? Or, having lived experience, you in fact CAN say that? That is one thing I wonder and want to more intentionally learn about/understand. I am white so I hope this query has not been unintentionally ignorant or of white privilege. I sincerely apologize if I have been offensive. I was asking from the point of view of “active listening”- I am a Nurse . The second thing I am now wondering is the actually question being posed in the second part of this topic. And I may more be asking myself what is “my” second part of the question to think about based on what I do. Totally thinking out loud. Love the idea of first part of question “How might we move beyond service needs and gaps Black youth face” ( love being pushed). Here is what the second part of the question makes me wonder-is , in fact, my challenge to “proactively design pathways to inclusion in the youth sector”? or is my challenge to “proactively imagine pathways that promote where black youth see themselves and see possibilities for their own future?” Does that make sense? I think about the social determinant of health of education as one example. It is a foundation for income, self-efficacy and expression, eventual housing, food security etc (i.e. earning an income eventually and therefore getting to have broader choices in life AND match your strengths/ talents to jobs you might be interested in). For SURE there continues to be a need for youth sector support for youth living with a mental illness – or a period of time of mental health struggle but not due to a mental illness. So that immediate gap exists! I am thinking in my job on the factors that promote broader positive mental well-being (what we call core protective factors in public health)- enhancing control, quality social relationships, positive participation in education and social inclusion promotion. How can I help youth see themselves. One thing I wondered about what how to have youth see themselves in potential careers- we don’t know what we don’t know! And I want youth to see themselves in a variety of career paths. Thanks for this ability to think out loud. TOO long a post I know.

Page 2 of 4

Log in to reply.