BLOG #5- Week #6 Positive Youth Development

Choose 3 quotes from the readings or org websites that resonate with your philosophy of youth development. Write up a short reflection on each: what does this quote mean to you? How does it resonate/ apply/ speak to you?

#1 Practitioners of this ideology believe that youth work programs should help children and adolescents further develop their strengths and interests (Pittman, et al., 2003)

To me, this quote means that family, teachers, youth workers, along with the youth themselves figure out what the youth are interested in and what their strengths are and build upon that. For Example, programs can start off with youth playing with Legos, then it can develop into a robotics program, and then it can develop into a career in engineering. Having multiple programs that the youth can get involved in to see if they are interested in can lead to finding strength in a particular interest.

#2  PASA’s Hub and AfterZone participants are supported by enriching and exciting programs that build vital skills and help them both inside and outside the classroom.

I love the enriching programs that PASA has for their youth! Having positive programming for youth to engage in helps with their positive attitude in life, their emotions, and their voice. Having diverse programs gives the youth the opportunity to experience new programs that they may have never tried if they weren't supported by the club.  Watching their video made me excited at the work that I will be starting at the Boys & Girls Club. I hope that the Boys & Girls Club has wonderful opportunities for the youth like PASA does. 

#3 FabX, We are committed to growing an equitable, learner-centered ecosystem of         

  learning.

To me, this quote means that Fabx wants everyone who wants to learn and grow,  have a chance to do so. I think that their programs are based on learning new things and building on it and expanding it to programs that may be connected to it. As I watched the video, I noticed a diverse group of youth. They were engaged in many different programs, fishing, bball, meditation, making music, surfing & sailing, and family events. There was an interest for everyone involved. All the youth, youth workers, and family looked engaged in the programing events. It gave me a good feeling as I watched all of the smiling faces that were enjoying the enriching programming.