Care and Leading With

Care

Care in youth spaces is such an important responsibility as a youth worker. There are many different ways to display care as a youth worker. In an afterschool space showing care could be providing snacks for the youth so they are energized to participate in the activities. Another way of showing care is making sure the space is clean and organized for the youth. This communicates a lot to the youth about respect. Keeping the space clean for the youth is an act of care because it sets up a safe space for youth to allow themselves to be vulnerable and go out of their comfort zones.

Leading With

Leading With can take many different forms in a youth space. The biggest ideal of Leading With is giving the youth equal responsibility and leadership with facilitating and planning. It is about making youth apart of the conversation and not talking to them, but with them. Leading With is a collaboration with the youth and the adults. It is bringing the youth to the table and giving them a voice in their own programs. The middle school wrestling team I coach for is a great example of leading with. The wrestlers know the expectations and responsibilities and were apart of making them with us. We have gotten to the point in the season where the captains could run a practice without us because everyone know what is expected and there is a level of trust and respect throughout the whole team.