Jewish Community Center

During this semester for one of my social work courses, the class had the option of going to the Jewish Community on the east side of Providence to hear the testimony of a woman who lived in Germany during the Holocaust. I wasn't going to go because I didn't need to but I figured it would be a great second event for Youth Development. 

Ruth

I made the right choice! I loved visiting the Jewish Community Center because I learned so much, and surprisingly related a lot to the topic as well! The lady who was speaking was named Ruth, and she explained her journey through the Holocaust and how it impacted her. She stated general stuff that we all knew, like how the Jews were mistreated, and they had to hide out, which is terrible but not new to me. For my core four at Rhode Island College I took the Holocaust and other Genocides as a course, so it seemed like a recap. As Ruth continued she talked about her journey to the United States. She spoke about her style of dressing, the food she ate, and how it all felt out of place. Ruth spoke about show she was embarrassed about her parents speaking their native language because it made it obvious they where in the United States as refugees. Ruth spoke about how today she is still effected by the Holocaust, because she has hatred and fear. She is scared about having to deal with that again. She gets upset wondering why more help wasn't offered. Ruth spoke so powerfully, it made me think and humble myself to the things I have and the things I didn't have to go through.

RELATED TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 

During the conversation, I asked Ruth if she had after school programs, social workers, or anything of that sort to help her go through this, and she said "no." She was grateful she was in the United States, away from the Holocaust and that was enough for her and her family. Although this is great that she was happy, I know that she could have benefited from youth services during her youth years, as she came here to the USA at age 12. While hearing Ruth's story it made me realize, she doesn't stand alone. As youth workers we need to realize, the Holocaust might have been extreme and the children we work with might not have gone through this event, but some have experiences similarities. A lot of African immigrates left countries like Libra because of war, and they are going though difficulties as well. This event was extremely powerful to me, because it made me look outside the box. This was a 80+ white woman who seemed like she had it made, but there is so much behind her. This applies to everyone. I am more aware now that students literally come to the United States from all over, especially in urban cities, and our services can truly made a difference. Ruth mentioned still today in her 80's she thinks about the events that changed her life, and always will, and this can be true for anybody. We might not be able to take pain away, or erase thoughts from peoples heads, but we can make living life earlier, and a lot less stressful. 

Positioning Teachers as Caregivers

The article by Corinne McKamey, Uncovering and Managing Unconscious Ways of "looking" was very long, but after reading it, my thought was it was interesting. I broke down the article and the section that stood out to me the most was positioning teachers as caregivers. Within this section it explains how professors have more of a role then just teaching a student. This can extend to anyone who plays a role in a child's life, like myself. I am a pass worker and work one on one with a 13 year old child. My job is to work with this child on his goals on a professional level, but I often find myself feeling like his mother. I go above and beyond my task as a PASS worker and even wait to eat lunch, so I can eat with him, which is crazy to some people.Within the article it said, Mckamey didn't felt like the teacher didn't "care for Asha." I asked myself what is care? I believe caring has multiple meanings, and could be used multiple ways within a field. Personally, in my position now, I feel like I care as a professional, but also as if it were my own child, which most might not. I have a very motherly presents, and this is reflected in my work. Lastly, I wanted to mention McKamey talked about meditating. It helps her few multiple ways of the world. I feel this way about caring. I wan to make sure people care about my children when I have them, and care enough to give them the best, because that is what I do.

my BEAUTIFUL Providence

This week from the reading and documentary what stood out the most was a video called, Our Providence. I don't know if I was exactly suppose to write about this documentary or the one above it, but I picked "Our Providence" because it fixes perfectly with the reading and its personal to me. 

I grew up in Providence 5 blocks away from where Youth In Action is located on the South Side of Providence. Although I have visited other countries and cities in the United States, Providence is home to me. I am proud of my city and this is what this video talked about. A lot of people who think about Providence think about what the media exposes. I invite people to see beneath what the media portrays! Providence is beautiful. Yes, there is crime and it might not be the cleanest city with green grass everywhere but theres still so much more. Providence is filled with Youth who want to learn, give back to the community and learn about others. In the reading it explained how Youth have a voice too. This isn't limited to cities or towns. Youth workers shouldn't come into Providence because they feel bad either. There are low income students everywhere, but students do not think about that from day to day; they try to embrace what they have in front of them. I love what Youth in Action is doing, especially from the side of town and city I grew up in. I want the youth of Providence, and any city or town they belong to, to take pride in their surroundings, and making something even when their is nothing. 

My name is Mairim Perez. I was born and raised on the South Side of Providence, Rhode Island. I honor my Hispanic roots, but recognized my mother used her "village to raise a child." As a youth I participated in the YMCA, Elmwood community center, and City Year of Providence to enhance my love for gardening, ceramics, and creative writing. I now, thanks to my community sit at Rhode Island College beating the statistics that my background placed me in, with the help of my family and the city I grew up in. As life progresses, the cycle will continue and I will be that helper that once helped me. 

Event One

     

           

Event One

Yesterday, October 2nd, there was a presentation in Horace Mann to discuss Youth Development at RIC and at a college in Israel. This disscussion impacted me because I didn't expect what I saw. The presenter knew English, but it was very broken down. As I heard more about her presentation I learned English isn't her first language although almost everyone in her college program and country learn English. As she went deeper in her discussion, she talked about how students graduate high school and directly go into the army for three years! I found it shocking, but this is how their youth gain maturity. When it was RIC's turn to present, the three people from Israel found the way we went to college rather weird. In Israel students first find jobs in the career field that they would like to gain a degree in. Honestly, I like Israel's approach and it made me learn so much! Personally, I would want students to have a job or internship in a related field placement to assure they like the degree they will graduate with. 

Last Week's Assignment

Hello Bloggers,

Last week we had the assignment to look at a video and write about it but I, as some other students was confused. Instead I was given the chance to write about Friday's class. We spoke about the three types of ways to approach Youth Development; Risk, Resiliency and Prevention, Positive Youth Development, and lastly my favorite Critical Youth Development. I like Critical Youth Development because its me. When I think of youth, I think of them teaching me, and me teaching them. I think us adults falling into us being adult so we are wiser. I was not crazy about the Risk, Resiliency, and Prevention because I feel like all Youth should benefit from after school programs, and such, even if they don't fall under a statistic. I think all youth have a story, they all should be heard and they all should be given the opportunity to express themselves.

-Mairim P.

Why Blog?

We blog to talk about our personal feelings on a topic. We blog because it is a privilege. Youth should blog because they can see more. Most youth only know what they know, but blogging gives them the chance to see others perspective. Youth can see youth around the world.

  

A little on me

Hello,

My name is Mairim Perez. This is my senior year at Rhode Island College and I plan on graduating RIC with a BA in Youth Development this May. My passion is working with children. Currently, I work one on one with a special needs child who lives in Pawtucket. I love helping him and I truly am making the difference in his life. Moving forward I see myself managing more cases and advancing my career with special needs students. I feel like with my pervious major, Education, I was limited to just being in a classroom, but now as a Youth development major I can work anywhere from hospitals, to schools, to home based services.