Ullucci Article

The Ullucci article makes multiple claims on how poverty impacts youth. The article presents four poverty myths that better articulates the author’s argument, that it is the environment is the contributor of poverty, not the individual. The four myths are “The Bootstraps Myth, The Individual Faults Myth, The Educability Myth, and The Culture of Poverty Myth.” These four myths are social devices used to keep the status quo, to maintain separation of classes. Ullucci presents a critical perception of how damaged social values are really just social myths used by the general public to justify, comprehend, blame, and even cope with our nation’s poverty.

                 

Poverty can impact youth development spaces in many forms, on both a micro and macro level. The thought on how poverty and impact youth development spaces is also dependent on context and perception.  With the disclaimer said, I feel it is necessary to mention anger in youth spaces. It is known that anger is an frequent emotion for those who are vulnerable and disadvantage. In short, a symptom of poverty is anger and anger is to be expected in youth spaces.  For youth, this anger can manifest itself though many forms, such as passion, frustration, perceived misbehaviors, violence, creativity, withdrawal, etc... This is just a perception, but youth spaces need to be capable and open to allow youths to express their anger. It is important for youth spaces not to alienate its youth by trying to correct, fix, or change the expression of anger, including the offensive. Healing comes after a certain degree of empowerment and awareness. Form my limited experiences working in YD programs, the successful programs are the ones that allow youth to get angry, even if it is at adults supervising the program. This is not placating or a weakening of prosocial rules and boundaries, but rather to allow youth some leeway when anger gets control of their emotions. They are many ways to teacher how to appropriately and effectively express anger, it best for the youth worker to establish a trusting relationship with youth before approaching the youth’s anger that derives from poverty.

Here is a really good link:: http://www.loveandlogic.com/

Love and Logic is an excellent tool for managing students, especial those who display anger. I have been trained in the Love and Logic approach from a charter school I use to work in. Please check it out, as Love and Logic teaching important techniques and skills for youth workers.