Heyo, its Ashley Kalinda here!
akalinda@uga.edu
Third Year International Affairs Major and African Studies Minor
I heard about IMPACT through some friends who were also passionate about human rights and service. It seemed like a cool way to spend my spring break and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try especially when I heard so many people talk highly about their experiences. I wasn’t actually sure what I was getting myself into, but if you would have told me that I was going to meet some of the greatest people through this organization and learn so much about myself, my surroundings and social issues, there’s no way I would have believed you. IMPACT truly changed my outlook on a lot of things and has forced me to open eyes to the challenges people are facing around me.
What originally drew me to youth advocacy is my love for children. I love being around kids, playing with kids, and listening to the way they perceive the world. Youth is certainly the most critical time in human development. Children are unable to choose the circumstances they are brought into, the environment of their upbringing, or the amount resources that are placed in their lives to succeed. I advocate for the youth because often times, they are not able to speak on their own behalf. When I think of youth advocacy, I imagine working with and for the youth to eventually get them to a place where they can make their own well-informed decisions, and have the appropriate tools to do so. Investing in the foundations of the youth, contributes to shaping a positive outlook for their futures and that is in everyone’s best interest.
I attended three music concerts in one month without completely burning out! They were for the following: SZA x Smino x Rayvn Lenae, Kid Cudi, and Amine.
akalinda@uga.edu
Third Year International Affairs Major and African Studies Minor
I heard about IMPACT through some friends who were also passionate about human rights and service. It seemed like a cool way to spend my spring break and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try especially when I heard so many people talk highly about their experiences. I wasn’t actually sure what I was getting myself into, but if you would have told me that I was going to meet some of the greatest people through this organization and learn so much about myself, my surroundings and social issues, there’s no way I would have believed you. IMPACT truly changed my outlook on a lot of things and has forced me to open eyes to the challenges people are facing around me.
What originally drew me to youth advocacy is my love for children. I love being around kids, playing with kids, and listening to the way they perceive the world. Youth is certainly the most critical time in human development. Children are unable to choose the circumstances they are brought into, the environment of their upbringing, or the amount resources that are placed in their lives to succeed. I advocate for the youth because often times, they are not able to speak on their own behalf. When I think of youth advocacy, I imagine working with and for the youth to eventually get them to a place where they can make their own well-informed decisions, and have the appropriate tools to do so. Investing in the foundations of the youth, contributes to shaping a positive outlook for their futures and that is in everyone’s best interest.
I attended three music concerts in one month without completely burning out! They were for the following: SZA x Smino x Rayvn Lenae, Kid Cudi, and Amine.
Hi! My name is Obianuju Okeke!
Ookeke@uga.edu
Fourth Year Political Science Major
My journey with IMPACT began during Fall Break of 2017. I heard a little about IMPACT before from friends, but I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was super apprehensive about the experience. The thought of going on a trip with 7 other strangers scared me but honestly for the short amount of time that I have been involved with Impact I can say it has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my college career. Not only does Impact teach you so much about social justice issues and inspires you to be intentional, but it also exposes you to so many people. Through Impact I’ve made so many meaningful friendships and I’m excited to create even more bonds!
Youth empowerment interests me because I am really passionate about children and youth. The youth is such a vulnerable community; as a person of color, I have recently began to understand and unpack how different the lives of youth look when you compare race and/or ethnicity. I am constantly thinking about intersectionality and I believe that the best time to intervene to allow for some sort of equality among people is to do so at a young age, i.e., interacting with youth!
Fun Fact: Me and my co were at the same concert a year ago and we didn’t find out until we met! Mind-blown.
Ookeke@uga.edu
Fourth Year Political Science Major
My journey with IMPACT began during Fall Break of 2017. I heard a little about IMPACT before from friends, but I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was super apprehensive about the experience. The thought of going on a trip with 7 other strangers scared me but honestly for the short amount of time that I have been involved with Impact I can say it has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my college career. Not only does Impact teach you so much about social justice issues and inspires you to be intentional, but it also exposes you to so many people. Through Impact I’ve made so many meaningful friendships and I’m excited to create even more bonds!
Youth empowerment interests me because I am really passionate about children and youth. The youth is such a vulnerable community; as a person of color, I have recently began to understand and unpack how different the lives of youth look when you compare race and/or ethnicity. I am constantly thinking about intersectionality and I believe that the best time to intervene to allow for some sort of equality among people is to do so at a young age, i.e., interacting with youth!
Fun Fact: Me and my co were at the same concert a year ago and we didn’t find out until we met! Mind-blown.
Key Terms
Facts
All youth are deserving of empowerment. However, some youth groups are more vulnerable than others and are more disadvantaged. Some vulnerable groups include youth in poverty, youth of color, LGBTQ youth, youth with disabilities, youth with less visible religions, and so many more.
In the United States common problems that the youth face include but not are not limited to, infant and child mortality, mental health problems, pregnancy, substance abuse, homelessness, lack of child support, lack of child care, lack of early childhood education, education deficits, unemployment, child abuse and neglect, access to healthcare, access to healthy foods, etc.
Additionally within all these issues that youth may be impacted by, intersectionality exists. Meaning that depending on the identity of the child or young person they may be impacted more by a issue. The term intersectionality refers the way in which the effects of different forms of discrimination combine or intersect. This is an important term to keep in mind when talking about any social justice issue. The issues affecting the youth are presented in many ways and as we study the issues impacting youth in different communities we are working towards to providing youth with the tools and opportunities necessary for their success.
In Greenville, South Carolina, inner city neighborhoods are suffering despite the lively downtown scene. Youth face poverty, lack of access to reliable transit, broken education systems, language and cultural barriers, lack of adequate healthcare services, an absence of healthy and nutritious foods, and safety issues.
- Adolescence: a defined social category that is expressed through immaturity and unpredictability and allows an individual to learn and discover their sense of self and identity; describes the transitional state in a teenager’s life, from childhood to adulthood, where an individual evolves physically, psychologically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially.
- Child abuse and neglect: any recent or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.
- Empowerment: refers to measures designed to increase the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities in order to enable them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority.
- Intergenerational equity: concept that says that humans hold the natural and cultural environment of the Earth in common both with other members of the present generation and with other generations, past and future; the idea that we inherit the Earth from previous generations and have an obligation to pass it on in reasonable condition to future generations
- Intersectionality: focuses on the intersections of multiple, mutually-reinforcing systems of oppression, power, and privilege; looks at how the individual experience is impacted by multiple axes of oppression and privilege. Variables include, but are not limited to: race, gender, ethnicity, religion ability, education, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, class, first language, citizenship, and age.
- Oppression: a mechanism through which the roles of dominant and subordinate are installed on all humans, and through which we are socialized to participate in the maintenance and perpetuation of other forms of oppression; youth oppression is rooted in examination of discourses that create childhood as a subordinate social status in relation to adults
- Self-efficacy: the optimistic self-belief in one’s competence or chances of successfully accomplishing a task and producing a favourable outcome; functions as a multilevel and multifaceted set of beliefs that influence how people feel, think, motivate themselves, and behave during various tasks.
- Silencing: the conscious or unconscious processes by which the voice or participation of particular social identities is excluded or inhibited
- Title 1: a federal entitlement program that gives funds to schools in need based on student enrollment, the free and reduced lunch percentage for each school, and other informative data.
- Youth advocacy: empowering young people in their everyday lives; attempts to provide support to young people in all areas that affect, be it education, housing, employment, unemployment, health, social security, recreation and human relationships.
- Youth civic engagement: working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference; These activities enrich the lives of youths and are socially beneficial to the community
- Youth mentorship: the process of matching mentors with young people who need or want a caring, responsible adult in their lives; often involves other elements, such as tutoring or life skills training and coaching.
- Youth engagement: the meaningful participation and sustained involvement of a young person in an activity, with a focus outside of themself; involving young people in the creation of their own destinies
Facts
All youth are deserving of empowerment. However, some youth groups are more vulnerable than others and are more disadvantaged. Some vulnerable groups include youth in poverty, youth of color, LGBTQ youth, youth with disabilities, youth with less visible religions, and so many more.
In the United States common problems that the youth face include but not are not limited to, infant and child mortality, mental health problems, pregnancy, substance abuse, homelessness, lack of child support, lack of child care, lack of early childhood education, education deficits, unemployment, child abuse and neglect, access to healthcare, access to healthy foods, etc.
Additionally within all these issues that youth may be impacted by, intersectionality exists. Meaning that depending on the identity of the child or young person they may be impacted more by a issue. The term intersectionality refers the way in which the effects of different forms of discrimination combine or intersect. This is an important term to keep in mind when talking about any social justice issue. The issues affecting the youth are presented in many ways and as we study the issues impacting youth in different communities we are working towards to providing youth with the tools and opportunities necessary for their success.
In Greenville, South Carolina, inner city neighborhoods are suffering despite the lively downtown scene. Youth face poverty, lack of access to reliable transit, broken education systems, language and cultural barriers, lack of adequate healthcare services, an absence of healthy and nutritious foods, and safety issues.
Key Facts for Greenville, SC: accurate as of 2016
Percentage Of Persons 18-24 Who Have Not Completed High School (Percent): 13.8%
Children In Poverty (Number & Percent)
Number:17,518
Percent: 15.3%
Children Living In Areas Of Concentrated Poverty By Race And Ethnicity (Percent)
White Non- Hispanic 4.7%
Black or African American 24.0%
Some Other Race 18.4%
Hispanic or Latino 29.6
Total Population 12.4%
Live Births To Mothers With Less Than A High School Education (Percent)
15.1%
Live Births To Single Mothers (Includes Paternity Acknowledged) (Percent)
36.7%
Babies Born With Low Birthweight By Race (Percent)
Black 13.7%
White 6.5%
Child Deaths (3-Year Data) (Rate) 2014-2016
17.5 per 100,000 population
Teen Deaths From All Causes (3-Year Data) (Rate)
59.9 per 100,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate By Race (3-Year Data) (Number)
Black or other race Number: 39
White Number: 67
Total Number Of Founded Investigations For Child Abuse And Neglect (Number)
947
Child Abuse And Neglect By Maltreatment Typology (Number)
Abandonment Number: 23
Educational neglect Number: 46
Medical abuse Number: 0
Medical neglect Number:14
Mental injury Number:0
Physical abuse Number:414
Neglect Number: 844
Other Number:0
Children With Founded Investigations For Child Abuse And Neglect By Age Group (Number)
All ages (0 to 17) Number: 1,821
0 to 5 Number: 941
6 to 12 Number: 617
13 to 17 Number: 260
Percentage Of Persons 18-24 Who Have Not Completed High School (Percent): 13.8%
Children In Poverty (Number & Percent)
Number:17,518
Percent: 15.3%
Children Living In Areas Of Concentrated Poverty By Race And Ethnicity (Percent)
White Non- Hispanic 4.7%
Black or African American 24.0%
Some Other Race 18.4%
Hispanic or Latino 29.6
Total Population 12.4%
Live Births To Mothers With Less Than A High School Education (Percent)
15.1%
Live Births To Single Mothers (Includes Paternity Acknowledged) (Percent)
36.7%
Babies Born With Low Birthweight By Race (Percent)
Black 13.7%
White 6.5%
Child Deaths (3-Year Data) (Rate) 2014-2016
17.5 per 100,000 population
Teen Deaths From All Causes (3-Year Data) (Rate)
59.9 per 100,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate By Race (3-Year Data) (Number)
Black or other race Number: 39
White Number: 67
Total Number Of Founded Investigations For Child Abuse And Neglect (Number)
947
Child Abuse And Neglect By Maltreatment Typology (Number)
Abandonment Number: 23
Educational neglect Number: 46
Medical abuse Number: 0
Medical neglect Number:14
Mental injury Number:0
Physical abuse Number:414
Neglect Number: 844
Other Number:0
Children With Founded Investigations For Child Abuse And Neglect By Age Group (Number)
All ages (0 to 17) Number: 1,821
0 to 5 Number: 941
6 to 12 Number: 617
13 to 17 Number: 260
