Youth workers have a powerful perspective and practice that is undervalued in today's world of credentialing and certifications. I've benefitted from advanced degrees, but my most important learning has come from actually doing the work and building a reflective practice with other youth workers who are passionate about strengthening their skills.
Since many youth workers operate in isolation - either because they have the only youth-focused position or because their professional values are counter to the culture in which they work - I believe it is important to create space beyond the workplace for youth workers to grow their practice. Through monthly Practice Circles, I offer space to strengthen your own practice and grow your connections to others in this dynamic, emerging and essential field.
Since many youth workers operate in isolation - either because they have the only youth-focused position or because their professional values are counter to the culture in which they work - I believe it is important to create space beyond the workplace for youth workers to grow their practice. Through monthly Practice Circles, I offer space to strengthen your own practice and grow your connections to others in this dynamic, emerging and essential field.
Who are Circles for?
There are people who work with youth, and then there are youth workers. What's the difference? In my paper titled, "Toward a Youth-Centered Approach: Creating a (New) Standard Operating Procedure Through Shared Values," I identify a set of shared values that youth workers bring to their practice. If these values resonate with you and your work (even if you didn't know you were a youth worker), this program is for you!
In 2021, I will offer two Circles:
- Relationship: Youth workers center their relationship with young people as one of their most essential tools - regardless of the "what" they are doing.
- Collaboration: Youth workers engage young people as co-creators rather than passive recipients.
- Empowerment: Sharing power with and giving power to young people is the primary way youth workers are oriented.
- Humanity: Youth workers take a person-first approach, recognizing the dignity and rights of the young people they work with.
In 2021, I will offer two Circles:
- General Practice: This Circle is open to all youth workers looking for space to dive into their own practice and receive support to take action with purpose and confidence. (Application Closed)
- Anti-Racist Youth Work: Space for youth workers who identify as white to unpack and resist the legacy of white supremacy that impacts their practice.
What to expect:
This Circle experience will focus on building and supporting one's own practice wisdom. As such, we will take an experiential approach to learning. Books, podcasts and other sources of wisdom will be offered as supplemental resources. However, the primary focus of our time together will be learning from each other's lived experiences. Each cohort will operate within a similar structure but will have the opportunity to develop their own values, guidelines and shared agreements.
Here are some additional details:
Here are some additional details:
- Each Circle is a 12-month commitment. After that, cohorts can choose to continue meeting in a self-organized fashion.
- Cohorts are limited to 8 people to provide space for deeper reflective practice among members.
- Each monthly Circle is 2.5 hours in length, and typically occurs on a Friday from 11am-1:30pm.
- Between sessions, members will have their own private online group (not in Facebook), where they can share resources, and seek and receive on-going support.
- Circle participants receive discounted rates on my coaching and training programs.
Benefits to your practice:
- Meet really cool people, doing really cool work. (Build your network!)
- Explore practice dilemmas away from the power dynamics of the workplace.
- Expand your knowledge and own what you already know!
- Gain awareness and support to uproot harmful cultural norms within yourself, challenge and advocate for systemic change, and build collective power within the field.
- Talk about the big picture and - when it's needed - get into the minutia. It all matters to your youth work practice!
Selection Process and Fees:
Applications are accepted until February 7, 2021. If selected, you will have one week to accept, defer or decline your participation. If you are not selected, I will provide you with specific feedback about the reason why - an example might be that most applicants serve high school/college-age youth and you are serving pre-K. Since the issues and experiences between these two age groups is so vast, it would be difficult to make the experience meaningful for you.
Youth workers are notoriously underpaid and over-worked. To account for this, I have created a sliding scale fee structure based on whether you are employed full or part time. I also offer payment plans and one scholarship seat per cohort. My hope is that your employer can also assist with the cost for this professional development opportunity. You can request a scholarship form through the application. Payment will occur in February after acceptance into the Circle.
Youth workers are notoriously underpaid and over-worked. To account for this, I have created a sliding scale fee structure based on whether you are employed full or part time. I also offer payment plans and one scholarship seat per cohort. My hope is that your employer can also assist with the cost for this professional development opportunity. You can request a scholarship form through the application. Payment will occur in February after acceptance into the Circle.
More About My Youth Work Practice
In high school, I had the rare opportunity to serve on the board of directors for a start-up nonprofit. That experience got me excited - not just because the mission was important - but because my voice truly mattered there. I stuck around until long after the pizza funds dried up - serving on the board until moving to college.
As I graduated from high school, I had a firm goal: to create an organization like that for other youth someday. I didn't have the language for youth worker yet but that all changed when I got to the University of Minnesota. There, I was introduced to Youth Studies and learned about professional youth workers. That's when I became clear that it wasn't just my career choice - it was my calling.
Over the years I have held positions in schools, social service agencies, residential programs and even churches. Eventually, I opened that nonprofit I envisioned in high school with a new group of youth. It was called Courageous heARTS, and operated for 8 years before closing in 2020 due to the pandemic. In addition to all that practice, I've worked with colleagues in the field to build stronger pathways to practitioner wisdom through the NorthStar Youth Worker Fellowship. While the "what" of my experiences has been wide and varied, the way I have engaged with young people throughout those experiences has been my constant practice.
My Circle Practice
I have learned to keep Circle from the wisdom lineage of Indigenous people of the Yukon territory in Canada, passed to me from teachers that include Nancy Riestenberg, Oscar Reed, Jamie Williams, Kay Pranis, Linda Lucero, James Radde, Mark LaPointe, Kay Longtin and many others with whom I've had the pleasure to be with in Circle.
As I graduated from high school, I had a firm goal: to create an organization like that for other youth someday. I didn't have the language for youth worker yet but that all changed when I got to the University of Minnesota. There, I was introduced to Youth Studies and learned about professional youth workers. That's when I became clear that it wasn't just my career choice - it was my calling.
Over the years I have held positions in schools, social service agencies, residential programs and even churches. Eventually, I opened that nonprofit I envisioned in high school with a new group of youth. It was called Courageous heARTS, and operated for 8 years before closing in 2020 due to the pandemic. In addition to all that practice, I've worked with colleagues in the field to build stronger pathways to practitioner wisdom through the NorthStar Youth Worker Fellowship. While the "what" of my experiences has been wide and varied, the way I have engaged with young people throughout those experiences has been my constant practice.
My Circle Practice
I have learned to keep Circle from the wisdom lineage of Indigenous people of the Yukon territory in Canada, passed to me from teachers that include Nancy Riestenberg, Oscar Reed, Jamie Williams, Kay Pranis, Linda Lucero, James Radde, Mark LaPointe, Kay Longtin and many others with whom I've had the pleasure to be with in Circle.
