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.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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Ashley...this sounds very aspirational. Can you really change minds through "research, education and public outreach"? How do we do this?