Community Listening Project Results
Problem Tree
Reflection
After conducting this community listening project, it is interesting to see how children are effected in this neighborhood. It seems that these overarching themes existed: lack of resources, positive adults ( especially males) missing in children's lives, and truancy and apathy .In creating this problem tree it is clear to see the influence the school-to-prison pipeline has on youth in our community. It is unfortunate that I consistently hear boys of color say they have low expectations of themselves. It is unassuming the way students interact with teachers and youth workers especially with the extreme level of apathy they carry towards class and life. This is a complex injustice that youth who have to care for younger students and walk them to school are then late and potentially truant for their own classes. The Becca Bill enforces students to receive punishable jail time if caught truant and can lead a lifetime of imprisonment especially for men of color. A way this could be ratified would be making amendments to the bill that allowed for alternative disciplinary programming to be held at a school by school basis through out the state of Washington. I know that’s a radical idea but having restorative justice practices in individual schools would be ideal because each school has their own culture and rhythms. The effects would be youth leadership and positive language towards each other and authorities, high self-expectations and fully engaged in school and life. This truly would be transforming and radical ( starting at the roots!) but possible with a strong vision and allegiance to this goal of allowing youth to see themselves and their education as something of value. When conducting this interview next time,I'd like to spend time with families and youth together in an almost documentary-style video interview and discuss differences of perspectives and opportunities for transformation.