WHAT IS YOUTH WORK?

 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 work. And then there’s this urgent feeling—this need to actively break down these systems and rethink how we approach youth work in a way that respects the sovereignty, strength, and agency of Indigenous and other marginalized youth.

My understanding of this doesn’t just come from reading; it comes from lived experiences and witnessing how power and oppression play out in different spaces. Being in the field I am in I see it happen everyday. This isn’t just an intellectual exercise for me—it’s personal. I’ve felt and seen the effects of these exclusionary systems, both in my own life and in my work with marginalized communities. That’s why being in class, where I feel free and open, feels so special to me. It’s a space where we can talk about these things honestly, where there’s room to challenge these harmful structures and imagine something better together.

What strikes me most when I read this text is how important it is for us to come together, to have these conversations and rethink what youth work can be. Ermine’s idea of ethical space really speaks to me here—making room for different ways of knowing and being. These readings are a reminder that dismantling oppressive systems takes more than just talking about it; it’s something we need to feel and act on, in our bodies and in our lives. Does this connect with how you feel about being in class?