International Video Conference

International Video Conference on Women and Domestic Violence

“Women Impact Global and National Governance through International Dialogue:
A Focus on Domestic Violence”

May 21, 2009, Philadelphia, Pa,…………….The Greater Philadelphia Caucus of the International Caucus of Women of the African Diaspora , (ICWAD) will host an international a video conference that will provide women from Ghana, West Africa and women from the United States an opportunity to discuss how their participation, as individuals, and or representatives of their respective governments and non-governmental organizations, created a venue for them to interact in the process of global governance. The video conference is being held on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 from 10:30 am – 1:00pm on Cheyney’s Urban Campus, 70 Market Street, 3^rd floor, Philadelphia, PA.

The United Nations four World Conferences on Women and specifically the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Bejing China in 1995 produced the Beijing Platform for Action (the Beijing Declaration) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which has been the vehicles through which experiences and ideas have been shared and translated into global public policy, and national and local public policy will be discussed.

The video conference is being convened by ICWAD’s International Chair, Prof. Tahiya Nyahuma and facilitated by Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and the American Embassy in Accra, Ghana. The international video conference will span two continents with panelist discussing the “Twelve Critical Areas of Concern”, that are in the Platform for Action developed at the Fourth World Conference on Women with a focus on violence against women, specifically domestic violence, and Ghana’s 2007 domestic violence legislation as an example of global governance and global public policy as translated and institutionalized into national public policy.

Following a lively discussion on the “Twelve Critical Areas of Concerns” the audience will have an open discussion with the panelist and each other. The 90 minute video conference will be followed by a follow up discussion of next steps with the United States representatives. This data will be collected and published in a follow up publication. Light refreshments will be provided. Seating is very limited. Reservations are required. For information and reservations call 2115-228-4191 or 215-456-9225

Discovering New Strategies for Our Youth- the Forgotten Population

For several years I have been working with young men and women who have been recently released from either DHS juvenile placement or jail. These young persons are usually between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two years old.

One morning a tall, mannerable, well-spoken young man of 19 years came into my office about a job. Not unusual, as the agency’s primary mission is to provide job skills and secure employment for adjudicated youth. However, as he entered my office his broad smile and an uncustomary look of confidence gave me a hint that this young man was somehow different from the youth I encountered daily. Normally youth approach me in a mostly pleasant, demur and stand-offish or cocky manner, often unsuccessfully trying to camouflage anger and/or huge insecurities. This young man extended his hand freely to shake mine, took off his backpack, sat down comfortably, and had no problem engaging in first meeting conversation.

He was very open and candid about how he ended up in trouble, learned his lesson and was ready to move forward in his life. As I gave my customary smile and nod, I was careful not to prejudge the statement or the person. However, I couldn’t help but have a momentary thought of having heard that statement an average of twenty-five times a day and wondered if he had just memorized the pat answers and rhetoric. He, however, plopped down on the desk half completed college applications to Cheyney and Lincoln Universities, and indicated he just needed help in completing the applications. His and my smile broadened.

When I asked about his schooling, he proudly boasted that he was a good student at William Penn High before his incarceration. His records showed he maintained good grades; he was also in a church choir and played in the school band during his tenure there. His last year of high school was spent in juvenile placement. Even more proudly he boasted that while in placement he maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He claimed they did not give him the math and reading he requested, he found the work too easy, however, he graduated.

My thinking, as I continued to listen to this young man, now shifted to wondering how he got to this point in his life. Clearly he was a bright, articulate, determined young person who was eager, motivated and had a thirst for life. It was easy for me to at first surmise that his home life must have caused his derailment. Especially after he informed me that it was his mother that asked the judge to put him in placement for his senior year of high school.

As his story unfolded, it was clear that this young man’s resilience was almost magical even contagious as I assured him and me that he had the ability to rebound from his life’s misfortunes. Our next step, I indicated, was to prepare to take the SAT’s. He smiled again. He had already taken them, however his combined score was 520. Now new red flags went off and I suggested that he take the ABLE Basic Skills Assessment Test we administer to new participants. The results of the testing showed significant deficiencies in math and reading. I took a deep breath and thought, where had the system; school, justice and social systems failed this child?

My role as education consultant, a newly develop aspect of the agency, is to help the participants look at and plan for their lives beyond the securing of a job. The agency had been funded to provide job skills, life skills and secure a position within thirty days for each participant. Many of these youth must have jobs within that time frame to keep from being put back in jail or placement. However, the agency had noticed that their retention rate was extremely low and repeat offences up. Participants were getting fired and having great difficulty in staying on the job even for the 90- day program requirement. The agency recognized that they needed to rethink their strategy, thus created the education consultant position.

This scenario is indicative of so many of our programs, schools and systems, we work for, who wonder why our youth continue to do poorly and fail. We are most often asked to provide job skills, life skills, increase self esteem, improve basic academic skills and prepare our youth for the “workplace” in a time frame that is not conducive to human change or development. Our “band aid” programs work for a short while for a “few” but often and ultimately fail to impact and change the life of our participants for the long term, as the blood of their life’s wounds oozes out and block their success. Further, for those who work with young people, how can we even begin to change their direction, academically or through employment, without looking at the needs of the whole youth, their past and their future? Why do we continue to believe in quick fixes? A holistic approach to change is needed instead of the disjointed, disconnected systems that continue to exist today.

As the example in my story questions, how did this young man get to the 11th grade with such poor skills and his report cards show good grades? How could he be placed in a juvenile system where he received a 4.0 grade point average, but was only supplied with minimal academics and menial skills? Even if his family was dysfunctional, and I have no real evidence that this was the case, where were the safety nets at school, in the church or the community? Did the school ever speak to the placement center or probation officer? Did the church notice a change in the young man? Did the family seek help? No one system can be blamed entirely, but all failed.

New strategies and new thinking must be explored in programming and agencies that are designed to “capture” and help the emerging youth and adult ABE populations. Sadly our programs exist primarily because something else failed. However, knowing this should assist us in the development of strategies beyond the books and papers, that properly equip and meet the needs of our participants into the twenty-first
century.

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I am Proud to be an American………Finally

Let’s be honest, the policies and treatment of other peoples of the world by America has been less than admirable. The Bush administration and policies of the past eight years have made the US reviled in many areas of the world. Further, if we consider the Iraq fiasco, Guantanamo Bay where Washington has ignored its own human rights standards, the shambles of the middle east “peace plan” in addition to other hot spots like Guatemala, Darfur, Africa, etc. The failure of US global policies have caused the image of America as the Leader of the free world to diminish if not dissolve completely.

Further, Bush’s domestic policies like many of his predecessors appeared to be a continuation of America’s long history of poor treatment of its own citizens over the last three centuries. If you consider the Native Americans during the early growth of the country, Chinese and other Asians American during the growth of the railroads, African Americans and slavery, Japanese American during WWII, and the ingrained and institutional racism that has kept various peoples from access and opportunity to the “American Dream” the overall report card of America as it relates to liberty and justice for all has been poor.

While we have made a giant leap in the election of the first black president the reversal of hundreds of years of laws and policies of oppression will take more than a four or even an eight year presidential term to repair the damages to American society. From our disenfranchised youth to educational equality, to economic parity, America has its work to do.

Michelle Obama was admonished for her perceived “political misstep” for her statement “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country”. However, her statement clearly resounded to many as a real and genuine reaction possibly as a African American who remembered her people being hung on the trees of Mississippi, or the four baby girls blown up during a Sunday school class, or the white sheets and burning crosses; possibly at being a witness of the shackles and choke hold of the mentality of entitlement of the old American guard being peeled away. Whatever her reason, she spoke what I and millions of others felt as evidenced in the unprecedented show of support of the new first family as the American flag was waved proudly from the millions on Washington Mall. As we all took a collective sigh of relief, and gained a renewed belief in the “possibility” of America living up to its own ideals. We eagerly role up our sleeves to participate, possibly for the first time, in a political process of inclusion, and a national effort focused on service, justice, openness, and integrity. We can say with a new sense of confidence, we are really proud of our country And, we are proud to be Americans........ Finally.

New to the Blogger World

Hello, and welcome to My Blog. I am Yvette P. W. Mitchell, a thirty year educator, program developer, lecturer and community organizer. I am looking forward to discussing unique and interesting topics with my viewers about what is going on in our town, country and the world. I also look forward to sharing new and innovative ideas, solutions, quality products and services I have found to help with our daily lives, our health, our children, family and our work to make better communities. While I am new to the blogging world I am not new to working with important issues and attempting to find solutions through open and intelligent discourse. Join me a we delve into our world today. I look forward to your comments.

I am also venturing into developing an internet business working with John Vaux, www.rapidaffiliatesuccess.com who is helping to develop the tools need to be successful. So far I have found that most of these "internet business" are scams that lead you in circles. I will share my experiences, serious scams,and internet predators as I embark on this endeavor. Please share comments and suggestions.