Ideology Inventory Test

     When I did the  idealogy inventory test I found out that i am strong in  Risk, Resiliency and Prevention. The second area that i am strong in is the positive youth development, followed by critical youth development. I believe this is a fair represent of me as a youth worker. I am more of having the youth tackle their problems head on and coach them to help them succeed. I am all about preventing foreseeable events and try to have the youth make calculated decisions for themselves so that they can lean how to also try to prevent unnecessary problems.

I can see why Positive Youth Development came in a close second place on the Ideology Inventory Test because as of late i been working on how I can empower young people. Usually i guide them through their situation but now i am seeing the importance of having them understand that they have strengths that they need to focus on for their self-esteem. By focusing on their strength, they can have the confidence to believe that they can do more. Building their self worth will also help them be more independent instead of relying on others to fix their problems. I learned in a social work class about the eco system map which shows the external support a person may have and also let them know that they are not alone. This is help for the children who are visual learners.

Youth in Action

The Youth in Action article describes what the the program is about and how they redefine working with the youth. The first thing that stands out is that the youths are a major contributors to the organization's business and management. The youth are able to make decisions for the organization such as budgeting and planning their events. The adults center everything around the youth to empower them making their relationship a partnership more than just adults working  with the youth. The adults and youth in YIA are both learning form each other . Youth in Action believes that  changing  communities happens through reaching the youth. This is different from other agencies that works with the community.  They have an exercise that i like called “Plus Delta Hot Seat” where the youth in the chair is given positive feed back and also things that they can work on. I feel like this is important because it helps the youth to be able to receive good  feedback and also give them an opportunity to work on areas of their lives that they may not have known they needed to work on. YIA is everything i want my dream career to be working for an agency or having my own that empowers the youth. I feel like there's not enough program that let the youth lead, probably because most adults don't have faith that the youth can create and maintain things. I believe that the youth can even if they need a little guidance. YIA can be the start of the trend of entrepreneurship among  the youth  the way they are heading. '

    I wish this was around when i was young because it could have helped with alot issues i dealt with growing up with low self-esteem. The concept of  being heard without judgment is something that could have changed a lot of experences in my llfe. Reading about YIA made me think of how i can change things on my unit at my job to have them start leading events and have say in what goes on.. It was great to hear about the collaboration between the youth and adults compared to the traditional authoritative  adult and the powerless youth dynamic . YIA maybe what the youth worker field needs to transform most careers that work with the youth into an empowering partnership  instead of power positions between two people. 

characteristic of a youth worker

I enjoyed how the article broke down the seven characteristic of what youth worker is. The seven characteristics captures the work that we do for the young people that we work with. The article said that youth work is an educational practice which is very true. It is non formal and is in a diverse setting. Just like the traditional education between the teacher and student it is based on rapports and relationship to make the education work. One of the differences between the formal educations and the services that youth workers provide is that youth workers can help with academics taught in schools and also teach things that are outside of the academic lessons like relationship, and handling life problems. Youth workers purposely intervene in young people's lives to create change. YOuth workers provide social practices that may not be taught in the classroom. Below is a pic of me in the classroom with a student of mines. I did my Americorp at Jon Hope doing activities outside the classroom with the students there. I had a ball while there. 

A second characteristic is social practice. A youth worker can also work with young people and teach them how to be engaged with others. The article explained how youth works can help shape a youth attitude and behavior through their interaction with other peers. This is also a good way of  finding their values and their focus. I experience this when I’m at work and I have to solve issues between clients and also show appropriate ways of playing due to some kids not knowing how to interact with their peers because of their disability.

                 Youth work is also challenges inequalities and work towards social justice. The article discussed how youth workers try to work with the youth to make sure they are treated fairly regardless of their race, religion, other background. Youth workers also empower the youth that they work with by informing them what oppression and discrimination is and how to enable themselves to appropriately fight through it. I experience this at my job because sometimes we have kids who are wrongfully placed at my agency as  "throwaway children” due to the system not wanting to help them or handle their case. These are children who are usually minorities who have been taken out their homes. As a person who strives for social justice i always strive to  empower them minoritie and  I try to give them options and advocate when I’m allowed to. 

The article discussed that youth  decide to be involved not because they have to but because they want to.  It is not only one setting like during school or after school,  It can happen in their home,   in their communities, church or wherever the youth needs the youth worker   In a  society where the youth have to go to school and maybe placed in certain programs, tt is good for the youth to pick somewhere where they want to be and engage with youth workers because they want to.  I think we have all seen people who work with youth but the youth are sketchy about being around the youth worker. I knew a lady who I use to work with as an Americorp member who did good planning kid s activities and filing the work but she openly admitted that she did not care for the interaction with the children for in the program. The youth do well with knowing who is interested in them and who’s not and that was the case with the lady I worked with.  The youth did really engage her because they felt like she wouldn’t understand them. All the other Americorop members including myself was bombarded with questions and engaged as soon as we entered the building but this lady wasn’t.

Youth workers also empower the youth to voice their opinion and make them influential in their environment.  They move the youth in in a positive way to be leaders through educating them from a position where they are powerless to  them being able to make decisions. Youth workers create an opportunity for democratic behavior to show. Sometimes I advocate for the clients at my program but I talk to them a lot about creating opportunities for themselves. I encourage them to give their social workers and DCYF workers ideas about where they want to go next instead of their placement being decided for them.

Youth workers provide safe welfare practices for the youth.  Youth workers work with young people who may not have access to resources and are deprived from education that most people take for granted, due to their situation. This stops the youth from reaching their full potential. They help with any social and personal problems that may be holding the young person back. Youth workers do not solve problems but enable youths to make good choices.  I believe this true and feel like there should be a place just for children that provides welfare to make up for the students who dont get the proper guidance at hom. Now a days I am trying  to balance the difference between fixing a young person’s problem and helping them come to the conclusion themselves. I am also always  considering safety and what the youths need to progress in life

Youth workers duties can be outside of the normal agency guidelines of working with  the youth. Youth workers can tackle social policies that affect their  youths  and do activities that go outside of what the agency or organization usually do. Youth workers don’t narrow their work down to one objective, but work to with the youth on the whole in all areas of their life. I believe this is true and find myself doing more than what my agency requires. I also look at the young people I work with as a whole looking at all their strength and areas that they need to work on.

My blog about me

                                               I been very concerned about this nation and the directions it is heading. I question a lot of our justice system and this countries true moral standards, especially when it comes to blacks and other minorities. i'm huge on social justice and  I argue civil rights with people who are blinded or ignorant to what's going on.

                                           This is a picture of me at work..yea i work ALOT

                                        I love giving advice and supporting people. I do it all day at work and when people ask me for insight on situations.. I actually have a section in my phone of qoutes and memes of great advice i sometimes  pull from to empower the people around me.

                                         I am the second oldest with my sibling out of 5 shown above. we are first generation  here in the united states whoms family came from Nigeria. this is us at my brother's Seun's graduation party from high school. From right to left is my brother Toyin who is 20, My sister Bunmi who is 32 and the oldest, my brother Seun who is 18, me, and my littlest brother Seyi who is 13.  we had a blast that day. We are wearing native  which is Nigerian clothing

This was back in 2011 my friend Jarvis and I were the super Mario Brothers. We had a ball.. I think we had the best customs  around.. 

                                          I love music.. i try to extend out to different genres. i believe music is therapty