Three questions for asset based thinking:

 1. Where are the statistics that prove asset based thinking is beneficial ?

 2. Does it require a question turned into a statement to be true ? 

 3. Does asset based thinking persuade an answer or is it a natural thought from the responder ? 

Youth Development @ RIC :

Three fun facts about YDEV @ RIC: 

1. Culminating in a B.A degree in Youth Development along with a certificate of Undergraduate Study (C.U.S) in nonprofit studies. 

2. Rhode Island College's M.A in Youth Development is the first of its kind in New England. Designed for early and mid-career professional youth workers. 

3. The Youth Development program ( faculty, students, and alumni ) meet legislatures to advocate for after school programs. 

Wood, Westwood, and Thompson

 " A key ethical that underpins youth work is the 'promotion of social justice for young people and in society generally'. Most youth work takes place in the context of social injustice, often with young people and others who are on the margins, excluded by a number of of personal, cultural and structural barriers". 

~ Guide : A person who advises or shows the ways to others 

~ Philosopher: A person engaged or learned in philosophy, especially as an academic discipline 

~ Embodying : Be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to an idea, quality, or feeling

   * while reading W,W,W I learned two new Ideas* 

    1. Page ten of the book. This section listed the core skills required for effective work with young people. In this list ' create the conditions where young people can move from passive recipients of service provision to active participants and leaders'. This skill enforced the main influence and goal needed to achieve when working with young people. 

   2. Key to effective is to avoid framing our work as primarily about 'solving' problems even if we work at agencies where this may be their sole purpose. I see this lessons as a statement to enforce are than being the 'problem solver' but sometimes just showing compassion and listening. 

Here is a quote from my favorite movie " freedom Writers" Line game

Where is my sense of belonging ?

Sunsets:  I find the most sense of belonging and comfort during sunsets. The collision of colors all touching the sky at once. The beauty that paints the air and brings vibrant colors to the sky. During the summer and fall almost everyday I try to watch a sunset. I'll sit there and read, listen to music, walk a trail or path during a sunset, or go for a car ride. The comfort I see in sunsets is that they always come back, they never truly leave. A sunset also always comes in multiple colors and forms but are always beautiful and grab the attention of anyone who sees it. In my eyes a sunset also brings me confirmation that anyone I ever lost is now in a beautiful place. I have lot a lot of loved ones in my twenty-three years of life. As a way to cope and find clarity (still trying) I needed to find something that could I could depend on and refer to when needing extra support. I'm not much of a person to confine in people when I'm struggle nor do I like to show my emotions. But with sunsets I am able to be vulnerable and my true self without any judgment or eyes on me. Sunsets come around every season, almost every day, and almost everywhere. The eye grasping colors that demand the attention of anyone who views it brings anyone a moment of happiness or amazement, even if just for a few seconds. While listening to the song 'Breathe" from ' In the Heights', I connected this song to a source that someone else may find a sense of comfort and belonging too. Listening to the lyrics and the soothing tone of the artist. The song was peaceful and enjoyable, just as a sunset. Music is another form of belonging. Hearing a stranger take your emotions and feelings and turn them into a harmony or melody.

Ted talk: The humanizing power of music

Euphoric music: IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR SOME NEW MUSIC !!

Caroline by Sombr

river: Leon Bridges

Frank Ocean: moon river

Peace of mind - Lauryn Hill

Lucy Rose : Shiver Sparks : cold play

Reggie : I don't wanna feel no more

pink matter: Frank Ocean

promises : Jhene Aiko

hurt: Blxst

Five Values To Navigate Through life :

    1. FORGIVENESS : In order to move on and accept certain situations in life, you must be able to forgive for yourself to progress. Not for the other person or whatever cause may be holding you back. 

    2. SELF RESPECT : The way you treat yourself gives others the idea of how to treat you. Having respect for yourself and treating yourself as you would your most treasured belonging. You are precious and should always remember / remind yourself. 

  3. ACCOUNTABILITY:  Being able to take action and responsibility for what occurs in your life is a big step to ownership. Placing blame on others for a situation that is in your control causes more harm. 

 4. FAITH: I know that the first thought that comes to mind when I mention faith is religion. For this value in my eyes I see faith as being a way of staying positive and having an open- mind. You should always try and find a positive root even in the worst of times. The mind is a powerful thing and could drag you down or build you up.  Feeding nice thoughts into your mind is food to the soul. 

5. UNDERSTANDING :  In order to be understood you have to be able to understand or atleast listen to others. People fear what they do not know and fear is the unknown. Its okay to have different aspects or views but at least being able to understanding other point of views or reasonings is helpful. 

Bojack Horsemen : One of my favorite shows , " Bojack Horsemen". In this scene Bojack and his girlfriend Wanda are deciding to end their relationship. In this scene I saw the values of self -respect being shown by Wanda. She realized her and Bojack are in different spots in life. They aren't the best for each other, so for this they must separate. From Bojack I saw lack of understanding and forgiveness. He instantly raged towards Wanda and felt pity for himself while she decided to end their relationship for both of their benefit. 

Color Blind or BRAVE

     While watching and listening to Mellody Hobson speak on being 'color brave', I found myself to find comfort in her words and stories. She spoke of a time 30 years ago that continues to stick with her til this day. Mellody attended a party at 7 years old, as the only black kid there. Her mothers first response to her when returning from the party is , " how did they treat you". Some may understand and others may not. But in this moment Mellody's mother was implanting a lifelong lesson for her to acknowledge that there will be and are moments when someone or persons may mistreat you or look down on you based on your color. In this lesson Mellody's mother wanted to inform her on awareness, empowerment that Mellody could succeed with. 

     There is a quote I took from this ted talk, " be color brave so every child knows that their future matters and their dreams are possible".  Relating this quote by Mellody to the world I currently live in. The little mermaid led by Halle Bailey, a black women with dread locs and raised as a black women. Seeing someone who looks like me, play a dominant role in a large child historic role brought nothing but encouragement and joy my way. The princess turns into an angelic mermaid and then wife, NOT a frog that eats flies and can never return to her human form and achieve her goals ( the princess and the frog). The new little mermaid role brought enlightenment to all the little girls who may have needed a reminder that they are beyond good enough and capable enough to receive positive praise and compliments. Down below I will insert a clip of the new 'Little Mermaid". Little Mermaid Clip

Identity map : The vibrant Taleah