Social Justice Approach to Youth Engagement (CYAN) February 2022

Are you ready to be challenged to move your youth engagement work forward? Are you looking for actionable ways to advance equity in your community?

Social justice youth development combines intentional anti-oppressive practice with and for young people, with knowledge and skill-building from youth development to support youth as they negotiate and disrupt the misuses of power in their lives. During this seven-week course, participants will be expected to critically analyze how power, privilege, and oppression operate in their own lives and participate in conversations regarding how they can disrupt systems of power that oppress young people. This course will offer a mix of critical reflection, skill-building, applied practice, and tools and resources that will enable participants to be an advocate for and with youth.

This online course simulates an in-person training environment by having all participants on screen via video. This allows for an engaging and interactive learning environment where you get to know the instructor and the other participants. Participation via video is required. We use the Zoom platform, which is free and easy. You can join via a computer with a webcam, a laptop, tablet, or your smartphone. We’re here to help - we’ll provide instructions and our session support team is available to walk you through setup if you’re new to this!

WHAT TO EXPECT

This course will take 8 weeks to complete.

• Online course materials
• 7 live sessions (Please put these sessions on your calendar)
• Course schedule – Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00pm PST
  • February 1st - Course shell opens on Canvas - NO SESSION
  • February 8^th – Session 1 (extra half-hour, 1:00pm-2:30pm PST)
  • February 15th – Session 2
  • February 22nd – Session 3
  • March 1st – Session 4
  • March 8^th – Session 5
  • March 15^th - NO SESSION THIS WEEK
  • March 22nd – Session 6
  • March 29^th – Session 7

Online course materials

• You will have activities to do on your own between the live meetings.  The activities will include things like watching videos and reading.
• There will be a short assignment to complete in preparation for each live session. (Live sessions go quickly. Doing the activities and assignments helps you use the time well.)

Live Sessions

• A facilitator will lead guided discussions and activities related to the online content with you and your classmates.
• A topic expert will also be on hand to answer questions and engage in the discussion.
• Live sessions give you the opportunity to connect concepts of evidence-based decision making to your daily work.

Communication

• You should receive 2 emails from us before the course begins.  Please email us at registration.rmphtc@ucdenver.edu if they do not show up in your inbox (please check your spam folder, as well).
  • Registration confirmation – immediately after registering
  • Course welcome and instructions – 1 week before first live session

Technology

• Live Sessions
  • You must join the Live Learning Sessions by video (an external webcam or built-in camera in your laptop, tablet, or smartphone).  Our staff can help you get set up if this is new for you.
• Online course materials
  • You will be sent an invitation to the Learning Management System (Canvas) approximately 1 week before the first Live Learning Session.  You will need to sign in, do some activities and make sure that you know how to connect to the Live Learning Session.  Don’t worry about the technology!  We have staff to help you.  You’ll receive all the information you need once you log in.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Daniel Martinez, Jr, (he/they), is originally from Texas and moved to Denver in 2014 to pursue a Master of Social Work education. Daniel graduated from the University of Denver in 2016. Daniel has worked with youth, families, and professionals for over 7 years. In his experience, he has worked in many different settings from after-school programs, a drop-in center, child welfare, and technical assistance. In Daniel's time as a social worker, he has had the opportunity to be part of many people's journies. He cares deeply about all aspects of youth work and hopes to continue impacting the field for many years to come. Daniel is currently working for a great program named UpRISE in which they take a social justice approach to tobacco control.

Allyson Howe (she/her/hers), is originally from Maryland, spent part of her career working in Costa Rica and Michigan, and moved to Denver to pursue my MSW, graduating in 2018. Allyson spent the majority of her career working with, and learning from, young people, ranging from direct service work to supporting systems and policy change. She has worked in schools, in a family therapy center as a clinician and facilitator for a youth substance use diversion program, and for local public health in the area of tobacco control and youth engagement. Allyson currently works as a Youth Programs Senior Specialist for UpRISE, Colorado’s Social Justice Youth Movement for Tobacco Control.

In her free time, Allyson love to adventure with my dog, be outdoors, potluck with her friends, and listen to new music and podcasts.