Virtual Café by YouthREX | Natalie | Activity

Natalie 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

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 23:28:50 -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?

I really appreciate your reflections here, Maureen! I am a big ‘word person’ and appreciate your invitation to use more reciprocal language, as I’ve yet to find a word/term that feels more equitable in nearly 15 years of youth work! I agree that the voices of those directly impacted by service is lacking, if at all present, and often is framed…

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

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 23:22:42 -0400

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

I couldn’t agree with you more, Emma. The fact remains that anti-Black racism persists because it benefits many institutions, systems and individuals in multiple seen and unseen ways, and disrupting that ‘status quo’ would require non-Black folks “giving up” a lot of this unearned privilege and power, including accumulated wealth! Thank you…

Natalie 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

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 02:19:55 -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 agree that adopting a trauma-informed stance/approach is super important and I would add that (at least for myself) part of a trauma-informed approach is working to facilitate “braver” spaces where service users can give honest and frank feedback about how I “show up” and specifically, where/how I may have misstepped or caused harm,…

Natalie 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, 07 Jul 2022 02:12:00 -0400

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

I agree and I think that social service/human-service agencies have an obligation to start (if they aren’t already) collecting race-based data and/or disaggregating their data to examine both the ethno-racial identities of service users and how service outcomes vary by ethno-racial identity. Without this information, it has been my experience…