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Post for 2.21.10 reflection questions:


How can campus activism improve conditions for the issues you are working with this semester? Are the approaches advocated by SDS (sit ins, teach ins, more radical forms in the late sixties) appropriate for your issue? Why or why not? What do you propose as possible campus activism projects?

I think campus activism is great for lots of issues, and I think my issue is particularly geared towards college aged students. Because the age gap isn't as large between at-risk youth aged children and college students, college students will have a great understanding of the issues they are facing. This is especially true because our society is constantly changing. We've dealt with these our parents never had to deal with at our age and it keeps getting younger and younger. I think by spreading the word and educating on our campus about at risk youth volunteering and mentoring would get more people generally interested especially those in sociology, psychology, and criminal justice. Campus activism for this issue, in order to be successful, would need to consist as I discussed in my previous blog: research, education, and public advocacy. If all three of these steps are done correctly than we have the ability to inspire more of our colleagues to become civically engaged in our issue or any issue for that matter. I don't believe the SDS style of activism is effective nor necessary for my issue. Those types of activism are usually for issues with greater challenges to make a difference. When dealing with rights of citizens or more politically associated issues is usually how I picture the SDS model of activism to be used. I think that instead it will just be about providing information and addressing the need for change and more involvement. There is a lot of misconception about how students can be of help and how to get involved. Most processes are very lengthy and we usually have no idea where to start but with the proper knowledge and help it could become easier. I think having organizations from across Ventura County and the Los Angeles area to discuss the needs of this issue, where we can help and how would be essential for on campus activism. I think it would also be great to form a discussion group that focuses on this area, not necessarily a club but a group of students who are interested in this topic and want to volunteer and learn more and help. I know this will be successful as currently my friend who is a Psychology major wants to work with at-risk youth this semester with me when I am doing so for my service learning portion of this class. This topic is also very emotionally draining and it's important to have a support group or someone that knows what it's like to talk to about it because this isn't about going out and playing baseball for a couple of hours with your little brother/sister from the YMCA program. It's about making a differnece in their life, learning what they've been through and helping lead them in a more positive direction. This could be very hard for anyone and having a support group would be great for the support as well as a learn place for those that just want to learn.

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Sunday, February 21, 2010 Posted in | | 1 Comments »

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Sorry this is late, wasn't aware that we were doing a posting every week and definitely didn't have access to my computer in boston for a while...and as for the the first post, I don't remember seeing any reflection questions for our first ever post as I assumed it was just outlining our service project.

Reflection Questions: What is the level of social capital/trust that affects the issue you're working with? How can you add to the level of social capital/trust on the issue? Do you need to? What type of social cues/norms guide behavior around your issue? What impedes/enhances cooperation around the issue? Would civic education, direct citizen engagement in decision making help address your issue?


When dealing with at risk youth, I think the level of social capital / trust is very low for this type of issue because of the type of youth it involved. Generally these kids come from families that are involved with crime, substance abuse, and violent behavior. A lot of times our community doesn't care to understand these young people who are troubled and essentially just need some direction. It has become normal for our society to just have these youth dealt with at homes or at at-risk youth centers in their cities. I think because of the social norms our society has created about these youth we see an increase in their development with violence, substance abuse, and neglect in the future. I think civic education and direct citizen engagement is absolutely necessary for this area. Once we can understand each person and address their needs, guide them in the right way, it makes a difference. Although we may only be helping one person at a time to go in the right direction. If we lead them that way, later on they will help someone else do the same, and so on and so forth. The stigmas associated with at-risk youth really impede cooperation with this issue which is why I chose to focus on it. With the right research, education, and public outreach, we have the ability to change these social stigmas and gain a network of people to help in this area. This is also very helpful in adding to the social capital and trust. Once we gain the confidence of our society about this topic they will be more willing to help than ignore the situation and leave it in the hands of underpaid people who don't necessarily always care. Instead we find the right loving volunteers or even employees who want to make a difference, and change the way society views these children.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Posted in | | 1 Comments »

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For my service learning project, I have decided I want to focus on at risk youth. I have always had an interest in this topic and as I a Political Science and Criminal Justice double major I feel that it will be of value to both my majors though the focus is for this course. I am still waiting to get a few more names of centers around Ventura county that to look into volunteering at, as I am not really sure where to begin, but I should have a place within the next week or so.


I chose to focus on at risk youth for my service learning project because a lot of our class seems to believe that we aren't really making a difference, and according to what we have read, it's really hard to make people change their minds, and understand situations to want to care. Well, I, on the other believe that we can make a difference. Sure we aren't going to be able to change the whole entire world just by ourselves or affect millions of people at at time; but by helping just one person at at time, you are making a difference in their world. I think we could all learn a lot from the starfish story.

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”


So while some of us may feel like we aren't learning anything, or doing much to help, you never really have any idea. I think working with at risk you is the best example of that, yes they will be put off by my help, my mentoring, or my friendship...but in the end it will make a difference to them. It may not be significant, but it could be as well. Even if I only make a difference to just one, then world is better off just a little bit more than it was before, and I think that it was citizenship and civic engagement is all about.


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Sunday, February 7, 2010 Posted in | | 1 Comments »