Virtual Café by YouthREX | Kennishia | Activity

Kennishia replied to the discussion Practical Ideas On Ways To Affirm The Identity Of The Black Community in the forum Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 20:55:23 -0400

Reply to Practical Ideas On Ways To Affirm The Identity Of The Black Community

I believe ensuring that our youth are connected to community is a critical part of affirming their identities, especially cultural organizations where Black youth can learn from elders and have access to volunteer opportunities where they can develop pride in their unique heritage. Representation and social capital is invaluable for Black…

Kennishia replied to the discussion Overall Emotions in the forum Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 20:41:30 -0400

Reply to Overall Emotions

As a Black woman in the education profession, these lectures left me with many emotions. I felt inspired to continue the work that I do to ensure that future students do not have to carry the burden of anti-Black racism at every corner of their educational journey alone. I felt saddened to read about the richness of our Black history in…

Kennishia replied to the discussion What is One Simple Thing you could do to center Black youth wellbeing in your work? What is One Simple Thing that your organization could do to center Black youth wellbeing? in the forum Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 20:35:31 -0400

Reply to What is One Simple Thing you could do to center Black youth wellbeing in your work? What is One Simple Thing that your organization could do to center Black youth wellbeing?

To center youth well-being in my work, I strive to use relationship-based approaches in how I interact with youth. I feel that centering youth well-being begins with validating their voices, creating safe spaces for their successes and struggles and bridging the gap between the support they want to access and the stigmas that create barriers…

Kennishia replied to the discussion How can we re-imagine our work with young people and their communities to provide a healing-centered practice that fosters possibility and advances holistic and collective wellbeing? in the forum Critical Youth Work

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 17:00:47 -0400

Reply to How can we re-imagine our work with young people and their communities to provide a healing-centered practice that fosters possibility and advances holistic and collective wellbeing?

I think we have to invite more youth to the table and pass the mic. I have found that prescriptive measures in approaching critical youth work end up perpetuating harm rather than planting seeds for healing. I’ve conducted focus groups with Black youth who have openly shared experiences navigating the education system, and I was blown away by…

Kennishia replied to the discussion Why is anti-Black racism still a problem in Ontario? in the forum Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:02:07 -0400

Reply to Why is anti-Black racism still a problem in Ontario?

I believe anti Black racism is still a problem because confronting it would require an overhaul of a system of oppression that still benefits those in power and decision making spaces. First, I feel there has been deliberate action to erase the stories of Black experiences to ensure that the narrative of “multiculturalism” and “all are…