ENGAGING URBAN YOUTH IN ACTIVISM USING YOUTH PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH, PHOTOVOICE & PERFORMANCE

Saliha Nelson, Vice President

1000 NW 1st Ave. Suite 100 Miami, FL 33136

786-439-1544ph | 866-811-7778 fax | urgentinc.org

Slideshare.net/SalihaN | Facebook.com/urgentinc | office@urgentinc.org | Twitter @urgentinc

URGENT, INCEmpowering Young Minds to Transform Their Communities

Hiding Behind EyesBehind the eyes where people can’t see

You’ll find me

I’m invisible

Look at my face and I’ll give a smile

However people don’t think

They don’t see what’s right in front of them

I go everywhere

But people are blind to what they can’t see

Which is me

Because I hide behind eyes

SETTING THE CONTEXT

Now, fill in the blanks to this poem below. The poem should help explain your picture.

I am (2 special characteristics you have)

I wonder (something of curiosity)

I hear (an imaginary sound)

I see (an imaginary sight)

I want (an actual desire)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

Take a picture that answers this question:

What do you stand up for?

See it Our Way

MOTHER I HEAR YOU

Mother I hear you

Are you listening to me my child?

Yes I hear

You are a strong black woman

Hold your head up my child

Don’t ever stand around and take

this beating

Stand up my child

Mother I heard you

Are you listening my child

Yes I am Listening

-Brianna, Age 17

The Campaign for Girls Well-Being

READ THE SIGNS

-Modline, Age 16

What are the root causes of teen dating violence?

 

Girls have all these sign but continue to let bad things happen to them. So, girls need to be educated about the red flags they see so they can know what to do.

KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

Participatory Action Research• Creative Engagement• Social Justice Frame• Validate Voices• Co-Research & Learning• Critical Analysis• Transformation• Social Action• Policy Impact

(Cammarota & Romero, 2010)

Photovoice

• Photo = Voice• Strengths & Concerns• Critical Dialogue• Reach Lawmakers

(Wang, 1992)

Sociopolitical Development

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

SHOWeD

1) What do you See here?

2) What is really Happening here?

3) How does this relate to Our lives?

4) Why does this situation, concern, or strength exist?

5) What can we Do about it?

(Wang, 1992)

What vision do you have for your community without this problem?When you look at this photo you see all the colorful painted wood with one brown wood piece holding them together with a lock. I can see that the different color wood pieces represent the different cultures & races in the community. The brown wood with the lock is the person who recognizes the problem, and is getting the message to the community. They bring the community together and build awareness.

ALL IN ONE

Creative Product: Play

• What do you see here?• What is really happening?• How does this issue relate to

our lives?• Why does this problem exist?• What can we do to educate

around this issue?• What can we do about it?

TAKING ACTION

Moving from Voice to Agency

• Identify problematic issue• Identify solutions• Identify where action for

change should be directed• Raise awareness• Present solutions to law

makers• Increased self-efficacy• See self as social change

agent

Progress