Promoting and Maintaining Cultural Identities of Youth

1. Promoting and Maintaining Cultural Identities of Youth Michelle Warden PSU Child Welfare Partnership

2. Netlink Team • Michelle Warden – PSU Child Welfare Partnership • Skyler Corbett – PSU Child Welfare Partnership

3. Acknowledgements • Casey Family Programs • Project Cornerstone • California Tomorrow • Scholastic.com • This Emotional Life - OPB • Early Childhood Equity Alliance • Unitarian Universalist Association

4. Handouts • Power Point • How Racial Identity and Attitudes Develop in Young Children • Cummings Identity Map and Worksheet • Activities to build a positive cultural identity • Book Resources List for Nurturing Children of Color • Book Resources for Nurturing White Children

5. Who am I (Monica Cummings) Who am I? I am the texture and color of my hair I am the shape and color of my eyes I am the color of coal, caramel and ivory I am the child of the Spirit that sustains life I am loved just as I am.

6. Objectives • Identify ways to promote racial and ethnic pride with youth. • Identify strategies to encourage and assist youth in forming a positive cultural identity.

7. Modern Family

8. Who are you? • Provide a description of yourself in five sentences or less. Be sure to include your race and ethnicity. • Values/beliefs • Favorite food • Clothing • Traditions • Location

9. Positive Identity Formation • Provides a sense of belonging • Brings self-assurance • A positive view of personal future • Better success in school.

10. Black Dolls and White Dolls

11. Identities Profession Introvert Extrovert Academic achievement Abilities Roles Religion • Race • Ethnicity • Values • Beliefs • Sexual Orientation • Gender • Politics

12. When and how is identity formed?

13. Stages of Identity Formation • Assimilation Stage • Questioning or Awareness Stage • Rejection-disengagement Stage • Integration-Reengagement Stage

14. Racial identity for children of color

15. Racial Identity for Biracial Youth

16. Identity Formation of Caucasian Youth

17. Gender Identity & Sexual Identity Rejection Acceptance Positive outcomes Self-esteem Healthy sense of self Well adjusted Appreciation of differences Empowered Happy • Depression • Anxiety • Low self-esteem • Suicidal thoughts • Homelessness • Poor academic performance • Drug abuse • Risky Sexual behavior

18. Group Identity “Children learn to know themselves in relation to opportunities and limitations in their social world. Race and color, in particular, remain unavoidable issues in identity formation.” (Frazier, 1941)

19. Consider • Outside of your family who does your child admire or try to emulate? Are they people your child can relate to as having similar racial, ethnic or cultural identities? • Consider this question for yourself as well.

20. Strategies for Engaging Youth in Conversations

21. Questions for Youth • What is your cultural background? • What are some things you value about your culture and would like other people to know? • Do you know anyone who is from a different culture? In what ways is your culture similar or different. • How do those differences affect relationships?

22. Family Activities • Discuss family history and heritage • Address issues of stereotypes, myths and cultural differences • Allow freedom to explore • Ensure everyone feels understood, respected, valued, safe and loved • Support home languages • Be an advocate

23. Community Activities

24. Cummings Identity Map

25. Video - Excerpt • Knowing Who You Are - Casey Foundation

26. Brainstorm • What are some ways that you can help youth explore and appreciate their identity?

27. Celebrate and Commit