SOUP'S ON Feeding the Youth Worker's Soul

Last month I participated in an event called SOUP's ON, organized by Jason Wyman of S. Kitchen I first met Jason at a training at the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) and later joined in with his AFATAC Learning Circles for Site Coordinators and youth workers in middle management positions (sadly this amazing opportunity was defunded... and lucky for you the curriculum with participated in developing is on the AFATAC09 Blogsite).

SOUP'S ON- is a FREE monthly community building event for educators, youth workers and organizers. The event has a unique structure where the SOUP is the focal point, all ingredients are donated by youth workers and prepared by Jason. There is a guest speaker that shares a piece of their journey as it relates to and helps to fuel their passion to help educate and support young people in our communities and an open table discussion all shared over a piping hot bowl of soup.

I was given the honor of being the first guestspert for this event, hand picked by Jason for my passion for the city and they young people in it. In preparing for my contribution to the discussion I came to the realization that my outlook has transformed a great deal over the past 3 years, working as a Case Manager and Program Coordinator I've developed a greater sense of duty and appreciation for structure and support, while learning how to let go and allow for other people stories to unfold as they will. In the beginning all I knew was that I wanted to work with young people and that I needed to be present and available to support but had a haphazard approach the work. I had resources but not enough self discipline to have a consistent follow through, over time, training, practice, and failure, I've been able to develop my own practice and specialty in my work, I'm more confident navigating the system and I project less of my own personal experience on the youth I work with. The opportunity to powwow with other youth workers and service providers always allows me to broaden my network and add to my arsenal of stories and shared experiences.

I encourage all youth workers and educators in the Bay Area to participate in this amazing FREE event. http://www.facebook.com/guttersnipe.76#!/event.php?eid=201092073239596

Bay Side With Rocky Rivera

GO GIANTS

SFPBK.BLOGSPOT.COM

YOUTH CREATING A CHANGE

Visiting with the Ladies at Isso SF

I love my Friday dates with Marie and Ivy from Isso SF. These business and fashion savvy team are a major inspiration in my life. I love observing these two women work, each bringing to the table their talents to create an amazing "life style" for the working SF women. Vending both their own designs and other local designers while creating a fun and relaxed shopping experience for their growing clients as well as being super star moms, make Marie and Ivy real life super heroes in my book. Check them out in Noe Valley on 24th and Church or in the Mission on 19th St. and Guerrero. www.issosf.com

Here are some flicks of these two women working on one of their signature altered vintage pieces.

Up Dates on the Gathering for Change

At the end of 2008 the San Francisco Youth Commission began executing their plan to create awareness and get youth engaged in creating change in their communities. It started in the Excelsior (For all you Renaissance readers that was the Excelsior Aftershock Event in December)

Gatherings for Change will produce a youth organized event in 6 districts and with end with a Youth Fest at the end of the school year.

YOUTH SUMMITS DESCRIPTIONS

Excelsior Location: Boys and Girls Club Title & Why: “The After Shock” - Because it was after the neighborhood violence Number of Attendees: Over 100 youth Date: December 20th, 2008 11-5 What went down: Documentary, Workshops, live mural, performers, Food!!!

Mission: Location: Mission College Campus Title & Why: “Our Mission Wake Up” – Reaching out to our Number of Attendees: 200 Plus Date: Saturday, April 25th 2009 - 11-5 What is going down: Workshops-educational. Raising awareness. Performers, live spray painting. Doing a Youtube video for their outreach- it’s a video flyer that will be posted on people’s myspace page.

Western Addition: Location: West Bay - also will be using neighboring businesses for the workshops Title & Why: “Gathering for Change” – Trying to build Mo’ Opportunities Number of Attendees: 200 Date: Tuesday, May 19th (Malcolm X Birthday) 11-5 Topic/Focus: Hip-Hop, Juvenile Justice, Art, History of the Fillmore, What is going down: It’s on a school day. Panel discussion. Performances, dancers, workshops, adults from the Fillmore who have made it will come through

SOMA: Location:? Title & Why: “Healing in the Hood” – Dating violence and taking care of ourselves Number of Attendees: 200 Plus Date: The end of May Topic/Focus: Male and Female relationships/Managing Money

Visitation Valley TBD

Bayview TBD

Chinatown TBD

Next up is the Mission Summit on April 25th 2009 @ the CCSF Campus on Valencia and 23rd.

I'm currently looking for performers and media envolvement for the event in June as well as for the other summits if you would like to get envolved please contact me at: ninaparksphotography@gmail.com

Daddy Hunger

The past few years have been full of growing pains and life epiphanies and some things in life didn't make sense to me until I got a little bit older, that's why patience is a virtue. Lately... I've been giving a lot of thought to the things in this life that have help to shape the person that I was, and in reflection, a lot of the conclusions that I made about life before were only half truths, or even false truths (a reality created by a person in order to create a conclusion for themselves), it's like the lights were turned on at a movie set, or revealing the Great Wizard of oz was really just a man.

For many years I hated my father, and with many good reasons, my parents were divorced when I was 9 and it wasn't until I was 18 that I started looking at my father like he was part of my family and part of myself. But I also came to realize that my father wasn't a bad person he was just human. But, many things that my dad should have been there for in my life he wasn't, for my Freshman winter Ball in High School a local drug dealer paid for my pictures cause there just wasn't money for it...my mom never knew that I just told her one of the other girls paid for it. My martial arts instructor Mr. Morrison gave me my foundation for discipline and taught me how to stand up and carry myself with respect. I thought my pops was a chump and had no good qualities until now, where I've come to value his advice on matters of business and finance and the passion for knowledge.

As a female I needed a strong male influence, and when it wasn't there I was hungry for it and searched it out other places. Even looking to the music I listened to and the movies that I watched, gravitating toward the archetypes that exhibited some type of code of honor and loyalty. I suppose it was the aspect of my life that was with out. I can only imagine what it would be like for a young man to "grow up" with out that influence around. Last year my homegirl So So Steph and I went to watch a documentary called "Daddy Hunger," at the community art center in the Fillmore run by London Breed who shared her story in the documentary. The film interviews people such as Fillmore Slim, JT the Bigga Figga, the creator of the film Ray Upchurch as well as a many others. It focuses on the African American community but the hunger for strong male role models is colorless. Happy Poppas Day! Peep out the Website www.daddyhunger.com.