The ACT for Youth project has identified the ways in which the relentless stigmatization of the Jane/Finch community is a form of violence. We have also identified that youth reject depictions of their community as troubled, with a recognition that this community is multidimensional and complex. Youth also describe a keen – and often unfulfilled – desire to learn and be mentored by academic and community leaders.
However, historical relations between communities and academia continue to shape assumptions about what different stakeholders contribute to, and want from, community-university interactions. Young people haved described being intimidated and awed by the opportunity to come to the table with academic and community leaders. But youth have also shared that feelings of unity, friendship, and trust among community members are amplified when people are focused on a community problem or issue, and both youth and community practitioners have identified benefiting from opportunities to exchange ideas with, and learn from, one another. Students and youth recognize the significance of an opportunity to create knowledge – and note that this is not the learning model used in schools.
In order to address some of these issues, ACT for Youth will host a youth-led conference this November at York University, entitled Living in Our World: Exploring the Truths in Our Community. Youth explore, educate, and impact other youth in our communities through the use of research. The objective of this conference is to explain and develop the positives of research, as well as examine the ways in which youth can assume authoritative roles in the research process. In doing this, our goal is to equip youth with the knowledge and resources needed to conduct rich research, effectively disseminate research findings, and act on these findings by building bridges and relationships within their communities.
We have learned that the youth voice is critical to the research process, and look forward to this opportunity to provide space for the creation and sharing of knowledge.
Please mark Friday, November 2, 2012, on your calendars and join us for a day of presentations and workshops, exploring the many ways in which youth can shape and lead the telling of stories in our communities.
For more information on presenting or attending, please visit our website or email us at actyouth@yorku.ca. You can also check out (and RSVP to) our Facebook Event!