What is Black Lives Matter and Why is it Important?


Happy Monday all! I hope you all have a great start to the week. 😊

When reading the prompt for our blog this week my mind starting running with a million ideas on how to approach a child asking about Black Lives Matter. Politics and race can be a conversation that takes time and effort. Keeping in mind the young person's background is helpful during conversations similar to these. 

I think the best way to start this conversation is I would ask a child if they knew what a club or group is. I would explain to them that YMCA is a club or an organization. The young person may follow up with a question asking what is an organization. I would then explain to them it is a club with a common goal they wish to achieve. Black Lives Matter is also an organization. I would also explain to the young person that their are connections between youth and Black Lives Matter. I would explain that the Black Lives Matter movement wishes for people of their community (a large scale community), just like our community at the YMCA does. I would also explain how the BLM movement works together to advocate for what they believe in. 

As a follow up, I would communicate to the young person's parents that their child expressed interest in the Black Lives Matter movement. The following day I would center an activity around Black Lives Matter and facilitate an age appropriate activity on advocacy and social justice. This activity may include learning what comfort zones, danger zones, and learning edge. These children are in Elementary school so I would connect it to red light, yellow light, and green light. Myself and another facilitator may work together to read age appropriate prompts such as have you ever felt uncomfortable around someone of a different religion or background. After the activity is over I would have age appropriate information on hand about BLM and other advocacy groups as well. 

Two Questions I have: 

1.) What are the goals of the Black Lives Matter Movement? 
2.) What are some resources and activities I can use in an Out of School Time setting that have themes regarding BLM, social justice, and advocacy? 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mission and Vision Analysis

Image
Kent County YMCA Mission: The mission of the YMCA of Greater Providence is to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all, through programs, services and relationships that are based upon our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Kent County YMCA Vision:   To become the most valued resource for families and individuals seeking healthy lifestyles and wellness. My spin on the YMCA Mission:   Our organization is dedicated to build upon our core values in the community through programs which establish a healthy well being.  My spin on the YMCA Vision: To become a strong, excellent resource for all individuals of the community looking to establish and strengthen healthy lifestyles, strong relationships, and wellness.  Critique of the Mission: While the YMCA mission showcases strengths, such as being easily explainable and one sentence, this mission statement needs improvement. When reading the Kent County YMCA missi...
Read more

Non Profits: What are those?

Image
Non Profit: Means not- for- profit. The purpose of a non -profit is not to make profit. Non- Profit Organization: An organization which is tax exempt by the IRS. They are recognized as 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organizations. Non- Profit Organizations serve a wide spectrum of the community. Non- profits often serve youth, families, communities, college students, and many other areas. Some of the largest non-profits are hospitals and private universities. For example, PC and Rhode Island Hospital are non-profits. However there are smaller scale non-profits as well (the majority of non-profits all over the world are). You might even belong to one without even realizing it. Some of the non-profit organizations I know and belong to are the Kent County YMCA, Girl Scouts, and Theta Delta Sigma (a co-ed siblinghood). Some of these serve youth, families, and the community while others missions are to serve college aged students. A diagram to provide examples of different kinds of non- pr...
Read more

02904

Image
For this blog post, I decided to research the zip code 02904. 02904 is a zip code used for North Providence, RI. Ironically enough, it is the zip code used for the opposite side of the town I live in. (I live in the 02911 area). When looking up information for the 02904 zip code there is approximately 29,359 people living in this area. Of these 29,359 individuals living in this area, 22.2% of them live below the poverty line. Since I am working with children, I looked up demographics about children living in the 02904 area and found school information. I looked up demographics for Marieville school, which is located in the 02904 area. The ethnic makeup for this school is 42% white. The other percentages come from various backgrounds including Hispanic, black, two or more races, Asian, American Indian/ Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander or Hawaiian Native. This ethnic background of students makes up 58% of the school. Of all of the students, 63% come from low income families.
Read more