I Know What I Believe: Using Theory to Prepare Youth Workers

Corinne McKamey

Lesley Bogad

Rachael Lee Ficke Clemons

Victoria Restler

   

    This reading is speaks about the Youth Development program in Rhode Island College. This outlines the meaning of Youth Development, the values and beliefs about the field, and locate their own identities and ideologies of youth work practice.

    I believe that the youth is part of the community and I view them as citizens. They should and have their own voices and be heard to make a change. Each youth are still developing and growing but they still have an impact in todays society. I use to think that the youth is the next generation, throughout this course my believes has slightly shifted. The youth is part of the society, they are part of the community and they are citizens. The three quotes that stood out to me that fit my philosophy were:

    

 1. "SJYD organizations provide spaces for young people and adults to not only exercise power within existing structures, but to work to disrupt and transform oppressive systems." (P.6, McKamey, Bogad, Clemons, Restler) - When I took the Youth Development Ideology Inventory my result was Social Justice Youth Development. Belief: Teens are legitimate actors and collaborators who have important ideas and ways of contributing to the world. Orientation: Youth workers focus on how youth engage with and impact their communities and cultures. The youth can definitely make a difference in this world. A classmate of mine shared her experience in Youth in Action and Providence Student Union, she participated in the student walk out in 2018 advocating in gun control. Greta Thunberg is another example, she skipped school and sat down outside the Swedish parliament to express her thoughts about climate control and now all over the world the youth have been using their voices. The meaning of this quote to me is that the youth and adults work together to express what they believe in not just in existing problems but making a change in the within their community and or world. This applies to my philosophy on youth is part of the community, they have the right to have free speech, make a difference especially in a community that they live in.

      

 2. "Youth development is complex, multifaceted and challenging work. The “what” of youth work -- skills and competencies — are critical to the professional training of youth workers. And the “why” — the values, culture, and theories of change that shape youth worker identities and ideologies — are equally vital." (P.16,McKamey, Bogad, Clemons, Restler)- When people ask what are you studying in school? I proudly answer Youth Development. I always get back the blank face and what is that response. So I go into more detail about YDEV. Then I get the response oh so like your taking care of kids, like babysitting. And then I school them on the five anchors of YDEV which are Purposeful Play, Care, Identity, Advocacy and Social Justice, and  Leading With. I would interpret this quote that youth development has many layers and phases and it is challenging. As a youth worker one must have the skills to successfully perform in the youth space to create a positive and safe environment. This quote fits into my philosophy because I would describe youth development work this way.

      

 3. "Practitioners of this ideology believe that youth work programs should help children and adolescents further develop their strengths and interests (Pittman, et al., 2003)." (P.5)-

This quote came from the section of Positive Youth Development, This quote to me means that folks work with the youth believe that programs should help young folks develop and strengthen their skills for the future. I think of the program After Zone http://www.mypasa.org/afterzone-middle-school/, this after school program is filled many activities that attract young people and these activities open the pathway for them develop new skills and or improve on their skills. This quote resonates to my philosophy by envisioning a youth space with positive outcomes. Youth should be in a space where they believe they can grow and learn.