Virtual Café by YouthREX | Kristina Larkin | Activity

Kristina 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

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 18:15:19 -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?

I was wondering if anyone has seen resources for critical self-reflection. Based on one of the presentations in this certificate, I’ve been dedicating an hour each week to reflecting on my work with Black youth, mostly through journaling about what happened this week, what I should have done differently, etc – but I’m wondering if anyone has…

Kristina 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

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:00:09 -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?

This a big one on my list too, and really trying to find resources about the collection part of the process. Our org is about to re-enroll over 9,000 new and returning members after covid restrictions lift and it’s an opportunity we could use to do this work, so I’m working on that process.

Kristina replied to the discussion 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? in the forum Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:39:57 -0400

Reply to 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?

Even just this question feels revolutionary – to think of that future and the youth who exist in it is so beautiful. For me it conjures reminders of being trauma informed but healing CENTERED.

Some of the ideas that really stuck with me from this module include not relying just on inclusive ‘mainstream’ programs but creating race-based…

Kristina 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

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 12:36:46 -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?

This whole thread is really helpful – thanks for starting this conversation! I love the link between supporting the voice AND preparing space for that voice. So critical. We’ve been doing that background work of making sure our internal processes and spaces are safer when Black youth participate.

Kristina replied to the discussion How might we draw on research findings to highlight and challenge the impact of anti-Black racism on youth and their families? in the forum Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 22:26:59 -0500

Reply to How might we draw on research findings to highlight and challenge the impact of anti-Black racism on youth and their families?

Some strategies I’m using to draw on research in this area are:

– take a ‘day in the life’ of view of Black youth experience in our org, listening to their experience in combination with the research (thank you Knowledge Hub!) from when they walk in the door (do they see Black staff or peers? What micro-aggressions are common at our front desk…

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

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 18:02:21 -0500

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

And I think Lucas that we need to take the matter of acknowledging and identifying our anti-Black histories into our work beyond just the national and provincial level. We need to examine what specific histories our youth work organizations have in terms of anti-Black racism – like, when when did our org have the first Black participants?…

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

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 17:58:37 -0500

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

This is definitely it, Anca – anti-Black racism enables white power and so it continues. Whiteness and white folks use abr as a way to keep their power, capital, wealth, status, job opportunities – and in the case of youth – as a way to maintain power over young Black people and their families.