Youth Advocacy

Year 3, Week 20 (210 total reports)

08.05.2023-14.05.2024

REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advocating for young people in a time when some global leaders are sowing divisiveness to fuel anger and hopelessness.

Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week

The Case for Curiosity

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-limits/202404/the-case-for-curiosity

The greatest asset that children bring us when they first come to school is curiosity, indeed, in healthy children, curiosity borders on wonder. It should be the penultimate goal of education to graduate children with a greater sense of wonder than they first brought us when they initially walked through our door. We must ask ourselves, as we sift through our curriculum and lesson plans, “How will what I’m teaching deepen the level of curiosity of the children with whom I’m entrusted?”

Best Links of The Week

14.04.2024

The Toxic Relationship Almost Everyone Is in: With Ourselves

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-it/202405/the-toxic-relationship-almost-everyone-is-in-with-ourselves

How many of us are on cordial terms with ourselves? Do we treat our friends better than we treat ourselves? The anger that we often feel towards the world around us usually begins with the conversations that we are having inside us. This well-written article examines the difference between self-criticism and self-awareness. One will help us grow and the other will immobilize us. Can you model the right internal conversation to those around you—especially young people? Please remember that the way we talk to our children (and the children around us) is the groundwork for their internal conversations.

13.04.2024

‘Civil War’ sends a message that’s more dangerous than the violence it depicts onscreen

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/12/us/civil-war-movie-democracy-blake-cec/

One primary reason I am featuring this article today is that it begins with a reflection from one of my favorite authors, Yuval Noah Harari, recalling Harari’s thoughts on Zelensky’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The author, John Blake, reminds us that—as a culture—we are a compilation of the myths we tell. He paints a recent historic perspective comparing the myths the film genre created around WWII and the myths (stories) being told today. It is definitely an interesting read and left me examining our developing myths about the upcoming election. Democracy is in the balance, and the myths I have heard do not paint a good aftermath to this election. We need a strong turnout that will resoundingly bury racism and fascism and Trump’s myths of authoritarianism. We are faced with a stark choice in the upcoming election (only 6 months away) Biden or Authoritarianism. In this election, every vote will count!

12.052024

The rage epidemic: is our modern world fueling aggression?

https://apple.news/A-ntaQbTBQEuA0qLW__7zbA

It affects the way we drive, the way we communicate, and who we vote for, rage is rising around the world and we need to be aware of its causes as well as how it affects us personally, socially, and politically. The GOP has been tapping into rage for years, some say, using it, others say, intentionally causing it. In Hosea 8:7, the writer tells us that God said Israel had “sown the wind and would reap a whirlwind.” We need to question, who—in our current world—benefits from “sowing the wind?”

11.05.2024

Practical optimism can be learned. A psychiatrist explains how and why your well-being depends on it

https://www.fastcompany.com/91122147/practical-optimism-can-be-learned-a-psychiatrist-explains-how-and-why-your-well-being-depends-on-it

There’s an important difference between being Pollyanish and having practical optimism. Practical Optimism is a healthy, mature response to the world around you that neither leaves you blind nor irrelevant. This article discusses how to grow that important cognitive response and how to pass it on to the young people around you.

10.05.2024

The Decay of Our Morals: 18 Disturbing Trends in Our Society We Glorify but Shouldn't

https://becausemomsays.com/the-decay-of-our-morals/

A lot of the trends in this report have become truisms, but they are still valid and worth reviewing. Which one(s) affects you the most and which ones do you think most affects the young people around you?

09.05.2024

“When you’re furious get curious”: How to handle emotional hijacking

https://bigthink.com/business/when-youre-furious-get-curious-how-to-handle-emotional-hijacking/

This article discusses what the author, Jeff Wetzler, calls “Curiosity Killers.” These are events leading to emotions that shut down open-minded responses to the world around you. It makes sense to keep track of your own Curiosity Killers, and if you are working with young people, help them keep track as well. Then, strategize together on how to either pre-empt those experiences or respond differently when they occur.

08.05.2024

7 Reasons We Are So Angry All the Time

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/decade-of-childhood/202405/7-reasons-we-are-so-angry-all-the-time

Waiting in line, stuck in traffic, checking out at the grocery store; Gallup Polls tells us anger is at an all time high around the globe. This article takes a deeper dive into where that anger comes from and reminding us, we can’t deal with what we can’t name. The issues at the heart of this article not only affect you, but also those around you. This is a great discussion starter for your family or those with whom you work.

This Week’s Links

14.04.2024

The Toxic Relationship Almost Everyone Is in: With Ourselves

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-it/202405/the-toxic-relationship-almost-everyone-is-in-with-ourselves

It's Not Just You – This Is Why Everyone Is So Much Angrier These Days

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/so-this-is-why-everyone-is-much-angrier-these-days_uk_6642095be4b0c43c96b11469

The New York Trump Case Is Kind of Perfect

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/05/stormy-daniels-on-stand-trump-trials/678373/

DOJ: Democracy and those who protect it "under attack like never before"

https://www.axios.com/2024/05/14/justice-department-election-workers-threats-ai-technology

Jesuit scientist who bridged faith and science recounted in PBS documentary

https://religionnews.com/2024/05/13/jesuit-scientist-who-bridge-faith-and-science-recounted-in-pbs-documentary/

13.04.2024

‘Civil War’ sends a message that’s more dangerous than the violence it depicts onscreen

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/12/us/civil-war-movie-democracy-blake-cec/

The 9 worst court decisions since Trump remade the federal judiciary

https://www.vox.com/scotus/24151144/supreme-court-worst-decisions-donald-trump

These Are the Stories We Tell Ourselves

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/last-stop-on-the-struggle-bus/202405/these-are-the-stories-we-tell-ourselves

Economists Criticize Trump Plan To Deport Longtime Immigrant Workers

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2024/05/12/economists-criticize-trump-plan-to-deport-longtime-immigrant-workers/

Bakery raises thousands for LGBTQ+ youth after “concerned citizen” rages over its Pride flag

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/05/bakery-raises-thousands-for-lgbtq-youth-after-concerned-citizen-rages-over-its-pride-flag/

Moral Teaching: Why Kant's Ideas On Education Are More Valid Than Ever

https://worldcrunch.com/opinion-analysis/kant-and-the-moral-education

12.052024

The rage epidemic: is our modern world fueling aggression?

https://apple.news/A-ntaQbTBQEuA0qLW__7zbA

A Mother's Day message: Don't repeat my mistake with your LGBTQ child

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/mothers-day-lesson-protect-lgbtq-children-rcna151656

Single mom perfectly explains to Congress why the U.S. poverty line needs a total rehaul

https://www.upworthy.com/poverty-line-congress-rp4

Capitalism As A Criminal Enterprise – OpEd

https://www.eurasiareview.com/12052024-capitalism-as-a-criminal-enterprise-oped/

11.05.2024

Practical optimism can be learned. A psychiatrist explains how and why your well-being depends on it

https://www.fastcompany.com/91122147/practical-optimism-can-be-learned-a-psychiatrist-explains-how-and-why-your-well-being-depends-on-it

Katie Britt is back at it, pushing a bill to launch a pregnancy tracking federal database

https://www.salon.com/2024/05/10/katie-britt-is-back-at-it-pushing-a-bill-to-launch-a-pregnancy-tracking-database/

Donald Trump Has Put a Literal Price on the Future of the Planet

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a60755662/trump-oil-donors-event/

Can Donald Trump swear on the Bible to tell the truth?

https://religionnews.com/2024/05/10/can-donald-trump-swear-on-the-bible-to-tell-the-truth/

Study reveals nearly 60 companies to be responsible for half of world's plastic pollution: 'The industry likes to put the responsibility on the individual'

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/plastic-pollution-brands-study-waste/

What did Trump say? Explaining the former president's favorite talking points

https://www.npr.org/2024/05/11/1245900177/trump-rally-speech-talking-points-rhetoric-immigration-abortion

10.05.2024

The Decay of Our Morals: 18 Disturbing Trends in Our Society We Glorify but Shouldn't

https://becausemomsays.com/the-decay-of-our-morals/

Dobbs Has Created a Health Care Apocalypse

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/05/dobbs-worsened-maternal-mortality-abortion/

Trump pitches a highly dubious $1 billion deal to Big Oil execs

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-pitches-highly-dubious-1-billion-deal-big-oil-execs-rcna151621

Autocracies are pushing propaganda against democracy itself, says 'Atlantic' writer

https://www.npr.org/2024/05/09/1250318614/autocracies-are-pushing-propaganda-against-democracy-itself-says-atlantic-writer