Advancing Success for our Most Vulnerable Children: Growing Black - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Advancing Success for

• ur Most Vulnerable

Children: Growing Black Genius

POWERED BY:

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

#Black Genius

POWERED BY:

Together We Thrive: Timeline

• Young people are our greatest and most precious
• assets. Must feel know and understand this as a fact!
• Systems that impact the lives of our young people are

failing them miserably.

• Manifestations of racism in our society is a major cause

for this failure. Systemic, Personally Mediated, Internalized

• Matriculation through school, gaining/retaining

employment, contact with the criminal justice system

Advancing Success for Young People of Color:

#Black Genius

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Together We Thrive: Timeline

• Drop-outs, push-outs, School-to-Prison pipeline
• Interaction with the police are violent and deadly
• Employment rates are low
• Homeownership systemically denied to our families

Advancing Success for Young People of Color:

#Black Genius

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Together We Thrive Overview Spiritual Level: Growing Black Genius

#Black Genius

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Together We Thrive: Timeline

• Interest & Talent: At what new interests and skills have you been

helping your young people to excel?

• Growth Mindset: How have you been helping your young people

to attribute success to effort?

• Racial Identity: How have you helped your young people to

attribute positive or negative characteristics to their Blackness?

• Selective Vulnerability: How have you helped your child find

new people to trust?

• Cultural Elasticity: How have you helped your young people to

navigate different cultural contexts?

Growing Black Genius: 5 Elements

Together We Thrive: Overview Mental Level: Changing the Narrative of Blackness

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

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Together We Thrive: Overview

Current Prominent Meta-Narrative of Blackness

• Black people represent problems that are to be neutralized.
• Black people want privileges that they have not earned.
• Black people deserve what happens to them.
• Any gain for Black people is a loss for all other people.

Mental Level: Changing the Narrative of Blackness

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

POWERED BY:

Together We Thrive: Overview

New Meta-Narrative of Blackness

• Black people are assets to community, commerce and country.
• We value all members of the human family.
• We reject narratives that demean, dehumanize and prejudice one

group against another.

• We can and do work together in asset-oriented way to build more

caring and prosperous communities.

Mental Level: Changing the Narrative of Blackness

Together We Thrive is a city‐wide, cross‐sector initiative designed to increase successful life outcomes for the boys and young men of color who reside in the District of Columbia. Vision: We imagine a Washington, D.C. where racial and gender equity is reflected across all public and private institutions, and opportunity manifests in all communities. Where all people can thrive no matter who they are, where they come from, or where they live. Mission: Our mission is to improve outcomes for boys and young men

• f color in Washington, D.C. by building a robust and sustained system
• f policies, practices, supports and opportunities that lead to success in

the areas of education, economic mobility, health and justice.

Together We Thrive: Overview

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

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DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

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Together We Thrive: Overarching Findings & Needs

• The perceptions BMOC have of themselves and others have of

them need to be more accurate & positive

• More & formal connections to national efforts – funding, technical

assistance, capacity building

• Better coordination & communication between youth, community

nonprofits, government, corporations and philanthropy within DC

• Innovative methods to record & analyze data that reflects the needs

& accomplishments of BMOC

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

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Together We Thrive: Overview

• Core Values & Activities: Racial Equity; Asset-based Orientation &

Youth Leadership/Youth Organizing

• DC Trust as Backbone Organization will provide infrastructure:

Articulating Collective Vision & Strategy; Data System; Strategic Communications; Capacity Building

• Comprehensive strategy focused on creating pathways to success

and improving outcomes for BMOC in DC

• DC Youth Insight Data System: Black Male Life Span Stages for

Healthy Development & RISE for BMOC – DC as case study

• ShopTalk Storytelling Series, #cme4me Social Awareness

Campaign

• Success depends on collective action of multiple sectors – youth,

adults, government, nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate, faith, etc.

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

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Together We Thrive: Comprehensive BMOC Success Strategy

• Ensure successful outcomes for BMOC in DC in the areas of

education, economic mobility, health and justice/safety.

• Utilize the structure suggested by My Brother’s Keeper Community

Challenge – Address the Six Milestones

• Seventh Milestone – Ensure all DC youth have access to culturally

relevant mental health supports and services

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

POWERED BY:

Together We Thrive: DC Youth Insight Data System

• Utilize DC Youth Insight to measure impact of protective/promotive

factors for Black boys and young men

• Work directly with RISE for Boys and Men of Color for guidance and

support

• In 18 – 24 months release a preliminary report detailing the

successes, challenges and lessons learned in creating a data system and indicators that quantitatively measure Black Genius

DC Boys and Men of Color Initiative

POWERED BY:

Together We Thrive: New Narratives of Youth of Color in DC

• Continue to work and refine #cme4me – Youth of Color Social

Awareness Campaign

• Produce more episodes and dialogue toolkits of ShopTalk

Storytelling Series

• Broaden the pool of images and resources available to promote

New Narratives of Youth of Color in DC