Power of One Final Project

Romona White

In every child’s life, there should be someone who can provide specific building blocks that will gradually lead them to a healthy sense of development. With developmental assets utilized, a child can grow up responsible, caring, and healthy. Every child’s life is important, which is why it is necessary for the community to get involved when a child is troubled, looking for role models, and even learning cultures in order to accept others who may not look the same as they do.

My initiative would be, to bring the youth of our neighborhood closer together and to teach them to respect one another. This is something that must be taken very seriously due to the many violent acts that have, lately, occurred not only within our community, but in society. It is essential to build a healthy community where children can have the chance to be completely focused and have full participation within society. This will allow the youth the tools to show their creative side and feel a sense of appreciation. The youth of lower income neighborhoods, similar to a few areas in Fayetteville, NC, as of now, have constrained access to public services and they require the opportunity to create essential verbal and psychological aptitudes so they can achieve more perplexing abilities, assignments, and complex substance in academic areas. It is vital for to not give up on themselves; which means they must have a safe place where they feel a feeling of cultural belonging and a way to enhance their self-esteem is essential in the youth sense.

In my vision, I would like to bring our youth from diverse backgrounds, together as a one community. When our neighborhood begins to fill with a variety of new children; they should feel welcomed, accepted, and a sense of security from youth and adults. As a caring community, our welcoming committee will greet new neighbors with a small gift and a card letting them know they are welcomed and we are here for them if they are ever in need. It can become discouraging when feeling as if you are not welcomed in a new place. The welcoming committee is just one way to assure the families and children that they are welcomed to the area and provide cultural competence.

My mission would be to have the community plan a community block party with a theme based on the youth. There will be both adult and youth volunteers planning and running various activities that will help make the new neighbors feel as if they have always been a part of the community. The first activity will consist of the community leader giving a short welcome speech, then allowing the new community members to stand and be recognized. I would also like for the community to develop a youth center for the children, so that they can have central place to go for fun and life lessons. When a community comes together it builds a social and emotional learning area for children and parents. The center will allow the community to learn how to work as a team on different plans, communicate amongst each another and learn how to work as a team to resolve issues. These activities are not just the best developmental source for the children, but for parents and other adults to not feel like outcast; which could influence a child’s self-stem and emotional state. This is a great way to prepare for ones future success in life and in the community.

Photo retrieved from http://fayettevillenc.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm

“The child begins to learn about her or his own cultural identity and to show acceptance of people who are racially, physically, culturally, or ethnically different from her or him” (Search Institute, 2005). Once a child is somewhat knowledgeable of other cultures and backgrounds, he or she can begin to accept other and will help to reduce discrimination and violence within the community and throughout their lives. I chose the developmental asset of cultural awareness and sensitivity because my community’s demographics coincide with this particular asset. As you can see, by the above chart, we have many different races in our community. It would be difficult for one race not to encounter another, so it is important for us, as a community, to teach our youth that it is okay to accept and interact with other races.

Another developmental asset that is important in my initiative is neighborhood boundaries. “Neighbors encourage the child in positive, acceptable behavior, as well as intervene in negative behavior, in a supportive, nonthreatening way” (Search Institute, 2005). Neighbors within the community will serve as somewhat of a second parent to our youth. If children of different races are being bullied or not being treated fairly, it will be the duty of the community to address the issue, try to resolve it, and let the child parents know what is going on. Or if a child needs someone to confide in, but cannot talk to their parents alone or at all, then the child should feel comfortable with going to a neighbor for support.

As adults, it is our duty to guide the young minds in our community in a way that they respect themselves and others as their equal. To prevent violence, racism, and low self-esteem, as a community, we must come together, create a plan, and implement the steps toward molding our youth into knowledgeable adults. The culture of others is something we all will face in our lives and should never become an issue. We must teach our children to work together and relay on life lessons to get them through any trying situations.

References:

Search Institute.(2015).