Full Description
Youth work is a sacred opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of children and youth. Through research and personal essay narrative, The Heartbeat of the Youth Development Field: Professional Journeys of Growth, Connection, and Transformation shines a light on the intricate connections between research and practice, touching upon both the vulnerability and triumph of youth development work. The passionate voices of youth workers in this volume lead to the inescapable conclusion that programs and policies for youth must be informed by these same voices and the values they express.
We hope this book shows OST workers, researchers, funders, and policymakers, as well as other education professionals, how youth workers' lived experiences inspire their ability to build the relationships that are the foundation of positive and healthy youth development. From relationships comes engagement, and from engagement, transformation—centered in equity, inclusion, and belonging. No one is better able to advocate for these truths than the professionals who found themselves—by whatever means—working with young people to bring positive change to their lives, their communities, and our world.
Contents
Acknowledgments.
Foreword; Michelle Seligson.
Introduction; Georgia Hall, Jan Gallagher, and Elizabeth Starr.
Section I: Theory.
Chapter 1. Relational-Cultural Theory: At the Heart of the OST Field; Betsy Nordell.
Section II: Pathways.
Chapter 2. Creating and Supporting Pathways to Sustained Careers in Youth Work; Nancy Peter.
Chapter 3. Turning Points; Brandis Stockman.
Chapter 4. Journey of the Heart; Jocelyn Wiedow.
Chapter 5. Taking Equity Full Circle; Mariana Lopez Quintanilla.
Chapter 6. Sweet Spot; Marisela Montoya.
Chapter 7. Investing in Communities of Color; Kourtney Andrada.
Chapter 8. Reflection Questions.
Section III: Engagement.
Chapter 9. Shifting the Paradigm: Simple and Radical Ways to Create Safe, Supportive, and Engaging Settings With Youth; John Weiss and Thomas Akiva.
Chapter 10. Creating Windows Through Words; Devan Blackwell.
Chapter 11. Knowing Who I Am; Terrance Cauley.
Chapter 12. Afterschool as Mission; Edward Franklin.
Chapter 13. Mentoring Lessons: Paying It Forward; Anthony Pound.
Chapter 14. Keeping Relationship-Building at the Center; Brad Lademann.
Chapter 15. Reflection Questions.
Section IV: Transformation.
Chapter 16. Transformative Influence in OST Programs; Ingrid A. Nelson.
Chapter 17. Sanctuary; Brittany Jacobs.
Chapter 18. Transformative Power of the Arts; Emily Ustach.
Chapter 19. A Mirror for Black Boys; Amy M. Franks.
Chapter 20. You Can't Fake the Funk! Priscilla Parchia.
Chapter 21. Healing Toward Transformation; Keith F. Miller, Jr.
Chapter 22. Reflection Questions.
Section V: Equity.
Chapter 23. Centering Equity in the OST Field; Jimena Quiroga Hopkins.
Conclusion: Now More Than Ever; Jane Quinn.
About the Authors.
