YDEV 501

  In the introduction to Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good , Adrienne Maree brown invites us to rethink the role of pleasure in both personal and collective liberation. She argues that pleasure, which is often repressed or commodified by oppressive systems, can actually be a powerful tool for social change. For brown, pleasure isn't just about feeling good or being satisfied; it's about reclaiming our bodies, identities, and desires from the harmful forces that seek to control them. She highlights how pleasure shows up in our daily lives—not just in intimate moments like sex and relationships, but in the joy we find in creativity, food, nature, and even play. Pleasure, she says, is an act of resistance, a pathway to healing, and a way to break free from the shame and guilt that often surround our desires. Through her concept of "pleasure activism," brown invites us to embrace pleasure fully, to counter the scarcity-driven systems that tell us we don’t de...

There was a time in my life when everything felt like it was falling apart. I was going through a rough breakup, trying to manage four classes, and just lost my job. It all hit me at once, and I reached a point where I knew I needed help. Mentally, I was drained. I didn’t know what else to do, so I reached out to a military counselor for support. The experience itself was...okay. The counselor was there to listen, but honestly, the help felt very "by the book." The sessions had a structured feel, like they were just going through a checklist. The conversation often circled back to medication, as if that was the go-to solution. But that wasn’t what I was looking for at the time. I didn’t need pills or quick fixes. I just needed someone to really listen , to let me speak my truth out loud without interruption or judgment. And while it wasn’t perfect, being given that space to talk things through helped more than I realized at the time. It wasn’t so much the counselor’s words, b...

       The podcast I listened to, Nice White Parents , dives into the impact that white parents have on public schools, particularly in New York City. The episode I heard focuses on a story about a group of white parents touring a diverse school and deciding to enroll their kids there. At first, this seems like a positive step toward integration and a chance for different communities to come together. But it doesn’t take long before deeper issues come to the surface. The influence these parents wield—often unintentionally—is profound, and it quickly shifts the school’s priorities, focus, and resources to cater to their needs and expectations. All of this happens without much genuine engagement with the school’s original community of Black and Brown students and parents, leading to real tension and sometimes alienation. It’s an example of how structural racism and privilege can quietly shape public education, even under the guise of “improvement” and “betterment.” One...

I grew up in Washington Heights, New York, where the streets were more than just a backdrop—they were our playground. My friends and I spent our days running around, playing manhunt, a game that seemed to capture the thrill of youth. The thrill of running through the streets, hiding behind parked cars, dodging between buildings, and laughing until our stomachs hurt became a part of my identity. When we weren’t on the move, we’d hang out on the stoop, talking for hours about anything and everything. It wasn’t just about the games or the conversations; it was the energy of the neighborhood, the way it felt alive. Summers were the best. Our elders would open the fire hydrants, and suddenly the street would turn into a waterpark. We’d laugh, run through the water, and for those moments, nothing else mattered. It was pure joy. Life in Washington Heights wasn’t always easy, but it was real. The neighborhood was noisy, chaotic even, but there was a sense of unity that came with it. We all loo...

If I am being honest, it too me forever to choose three quotes because everything was so damn good. Even both articles were so interesting. But the assignment was to choose three and I guess I have to ha-ha. the first one I chose was: 1.      Risk, Resilience and Prevention focuses on identifying problems with children and adolescents and intervening with education. In this model of youth development, adults are responsible for identifying problems, recognizing deficits, and leading young people to understand the importance of preventing risky behavior (Pittman, et al., 2003) This quote really underscores the significant role that adults play in shaping young people's lives. It’s not just about pointing out problems but about recognizing where a young person might be struggling or heading down a risky path and stepping in to help guide them toward better choices. For me, it brings to light the idea that adults have this immense responsibility—not only to protect but ...

 I apologize for posting so late. Its been a long week but I am back and excited to speak on the assignment, As I read through these texts, I feel a tightness in my chest and stomach, like I’m physically reacting to the painful history of colonization and the racialized narratives woven into the way youth work has been shaped. It’s hard not to feel a strong emotional response to how Indigenous youth and other marginalized groups have been devalued, their identities and knowledge systems erased. It’s heartbreaking, but it also makes me angry to see how these structures are still impacting youth development today. Emotionally, I’m torn between sadness, frustration, and a sense of urgency. There’s deep sadness for the ongoing trauma Indigenous youth have faced, made worse by these colonial ideas that are still so ingrained in our systems. The frustration comes from the fact that these harmful patterns have been allowed to persist for so long, even as we talk about decolonizing youth...