Summer on Strike

The City of Toronto strike is affecting many groups of youth. From the Centre Island summer staff who cannot get to their jobs because the Island ferry service is not currently running, to city summer camp staff not working because camps have been cancelled. This strike is affecting the finances and futures of youth throughout the city.

If teens are not playing on the city basketball courts because they are temporary dump sites...then what are the kids doing? Where are the teens hanging out then?!

The unions are doing what they feel needs to be done. The city is doing what they feel needs to be done. However, lost in the middle are the youth who need these jobs to pay for tuition and safe areas to socialize in.

If you know a teen who has been affected by the strike:

encourage them to do some of their volunteer hours

encourage them to participate in an organized sport

encourage them to look elsewhere for a summer job

encourage them to start their own small summer business

World Youth Congress 2010

Set your calendars and start making your travel plans for World Youth Congress 2010

This upcoming event will be held July 31, 2010 - August 13, 2010 - at the YILDIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (Istanbul, Turkey).

This is the 5th congress in this series - as in previous congress tradition - there is one main question for discussion; “What are the most effective ways that government, UN and other development aid agencies can use the incredible talent, energy and idealism of young people in their shared effort to make poverty history in a sustainable way and achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals?”

There is no participation fee to attend this global event. Applicants should be between the ages of 15-25 in order to take part in the congress.

The application process started on April 19, 2009 - please go to http://www.turkiye2010.org/ for more information about the event, application process and mission.

The Nature of a Teen

The Globe and Mail ran an article - "Misunderstood (for reals)" where the author, Sarah Boesveld, interviewed University of Cambridge veterinary anatomist David Bainbridge about the nature of teens.

Dr. Bainbridge has written a book on the subject - "Teenagers: A Natural History"

The following is an excerpt from that interview:

This book is meant to explain why teenagers exist. Isn't there a simple answer – that it's just a natural bridge from childhood to adulthood?

Other animals that take a very long time to grow up, like whales and chimpanzees, they're all pretty much finished when they're about ten, whereas humans, though we live a similar length of time, it takes twice as long. The more I looked into this, the more I realized the second decade is really something that is unique to humans. Many of the things that really make us unique, like planning all of our highest cognitive functions, we develop when we're teenagers.

It is an interesting position - the second decade of development in a human's life creates experience and shapes who we become as adults.

Consider: are the teen years a natural stage of evolution or a marketing niche? Discuss...

Generation Y = Mini-Adults?

Is it right to expect teens to be mini-adults? Despite the fact that they have the means and opportunity to partake in international travel, study and work - it does not necessarily mean they are mini-adults. Today's teens still has financial and emotional dependence on their parents. Perhaps, more so than any other teen generation.

Snowplow parents have scheduled and handled every component of the modern teen life. Their dependence on their parents has been cultivated from birth.

To treat teens as mini-adults would be an injustice. Though they may be mature and educated - they simply don't have the experience of other teen generations.

As such, one must approach Generation Y with a coach's mentality. Support, guide and cheer.

Youth trends demonstrate that Generation Y wants to be engaged in meaningful projects - yet they aren't quite sure where to start. Those who want to connect with Generation Y need only present a starting point....

Listen to The Roots

The Roots (off their Things Fall Apart album) - Love of my Live - Feat. Common

Toronto Interships

There are some interesting internships available for summer 2009 to students looking for new experiences and valuable opportunities.

Toronto Life Editorial Internship Program Toronto Life's editorial internship is a four-month program for university graduates interested in working in the magazine industry.

Bain & Company internship For students between their third and fourth years of university, we offer the Associate Consultant Intern (ACI) opportunity. While the Summer Associate (SA) program is for students between their first and second years of business school.

The Toronto Star internships (3 internship programs)

The Toronto Star is once again offering a one-year internship program for young journalists. This year we will hire six reporting interns, two copy editing interns and a design intern.

Radio room reporters monitor emergency scanners, do police checks, monitor radio and television news and report stories that are often crime or trauma related. In addition to writing for the newspaper, radio room reporters file breaking news stories and updates to the website. Successful candidates also work shifts answering phones and providing support to the newsroom.

Summer program a demanding program because summer reporters and photographers are hired on vacation replacement contracts - meaning that as full-time staff disappear on vacations, summer interns are expected to step up to the demands of replacing them.

Summer Plans

Mid-June already - do you know what your summer plans are? Many Canadian university students have already started summer jobs and internships...leaving high school students the scraps of summer opportunity.

What's a teen to do?!

• Inquire at your local MP, MPP's and city councillor's office if they would welcome you as a summer volunteer. Office work and errands are good starting points to building a solid résumé. It's also a great opportunity to accumulate references for your good work.
  
• Volunteer at a local children's centre or non-profit organization. These charities need your help. Be sure to ask if the volunteering can be put towards your required secondary school volunteer hours.
  
• Take a summer school course. This is a great way to pick up an extra credit.
  
• Take a course of interest. Sign up for a writing seminar or a arts workshop.
  
• Build something. Whether it be building a house for a needy family (habitat for humanity) or building your own grassroots organization (perhaps your area needs a bike lane?) - building something is a good thing.

Just because you don't have summer plans - yet - doesn't mean there isn't a plan for the summer. Do something meaningful!

Positive Hip Hop Podcast

Hosted by Furia, the Positive Hip Hop Podcast (PHHP) is a series of FREE "radio" podcasts featuring topics and tracks with positive messages.

The goal of the "show" is to present a variety of positive hip hop and exclusive articles. It dispels the violence and self-destructive materialism themes so often heard on major hip hop radio stations.

Episodes follow themes like: "Social & Political Change", "Money, Fame and Hip-Hop", and "Poetry & Lyricism". All you need is itunes, a computer and perhaps your ipod to make the podcast portable.

Warning: some explicit material.

Civic Involvement - Community Volunteering

If you are interested in getting involved with your community (see Civics 101 post) - civic involvement for youth can be a great experience. Not only do you learn about process and organization - you understand the meaning behind those processes.

Getting engaged in one's community should be a life-long endeavour. Community is important. Community is of value. Community is something that is nurtured and should not be taken for granted.

If you are interested in resources, information on how to volunteer or ways in which you may get involved with civic involvement in your community check out the following links...

Volunteer Moncton
www.volunteergreatermoncton.com

Volunteer Toronto
www.volunteertoronto.on.ca

Volunteer Vancouver
www.volunteervancouver.ca

(you get the idea...branches across Canada)

charity village
www.charityvillage.com

habitat for humanity
www.habitat.org

(please note: this list is not comprehensive at all - this is just a sample of the wonderful community organizations reaching out to youth in Canada)

Civics 101 Program

The City of Toronto is launching a Toronto Civics 101 program - starting this fall. The objective of the course is to find our how city decisions are made, what's behind the news and who does what.

A perfect program for youth interested in civic engagement, politics, law, grassroots organizations, voluntarism and growing experience.

The 4 sessionsare FREE and include visits to some of the city's most interesting sites.

Deadline for application is June 23, 2009. Apply at www.toronto.ca/civic-engagement, 416-392-8592, TTY 416-338-0889 or engagmeent@toronto.ca.

Space is limited.

Spotlight: Free the Children

Free the Children offers young people to opportunity to make a difference. Through youth groups, volunteer programs and ambassadorships to become active, compassionate and knowledgeable global citizens to create lasting change in the world.



If you are interested in Leadership Training, Volunteering or just expanding your experience this is a great organization.

Urban Dance

Did you make it out to the Toronto Stomp Urban Dance competition 2009 last week? These competitions are positive events for youth to work/dance/pop together. It is a tangible representation of their dedication, enthusiasm and focus when they have a goal which drives them.

This is a clip of Stomp 2003 - watch for the crowd response to the performance....

STOMP Urban Dance Competition/Showcase

This weekend, the City of Toronto presents the eighth annual STOMP Urban Dance Competition/Showcase. The event offers high-calibre performances that incorporate various styles of urban dance, such as step, b-boy, break, hip hop, dancehall, jazz and contemporary.

Special guest judge: Tré Armstrong, So You Think You Can Dance Canada

Date: Saturday, May 23
Time: 1 to 6 p.m.
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Exhibition Place, 210 Princes Blvd.

STOMP Urban Dance Competition/ Showcase will feature more than 300 performers age six to 24 from Parks, Forestry and Recreation dance programs and other youth-serving agencies. It is one of many youth initiatives developed by Parks, Forestry and Recreation to foster an environment where youth are safe, celebrated and encouraged to showcase their artistic creativity.

Youth Camera Action!

Youth Camera Action is a two week program, specific to youth in Toronto, presented by Planet in Focus.

Geared toward youth between the ages of 14 – 18 from the GTA, participants will explore important environmental issues through the camera’s lens and have the opportunity to create their very own video. This program is designed to encourage creative exploration and expression while developing fundamental awareness of global environmental issues.

The camp runs Aug. 10-21, 2009. Camp Fee is $250 (Full program subsidies and scholarships available upon request!)

All videos will screen at the Green Sprouts Youth Filmmakers’ Showcase at the Planet in Focus Film Festival in October!

For more details about YCA and Planet in Focus visit:
416 531 4689 / submissions@planetinfocus.org

Youth Mobility

How do you catch the attention to a generation of people who are always on the move? You have your (or your organization's) message move with today's youth.


Reference: This blog touched on this subject HERE (yes, click on that).

It is important to engage youth in motion. Podcasts, mp3 interviews, SMS messages, vlogs and blogs are great tools to connect, engage and communicate with youth.

Memorable messages are one which are viral. A humourous line, cool music and/or great graphics will get your message viewed - and shared.