These are from our 2nd "All Youth and Staff Meeting" where we flushed out thoughts regarding the MBTA, in order to identify which social justice issue we will be addressing for our CFC project.

Stephen's response (pre author status)

Thanks for posting this. Some astonishing perspectives from the youth. What's not on these handouts is that at the end of this discussion, the youth had two main conclusions:

1.) Some perspectives and stereotypes are ingrained in society and it will take a lot to change them, but all it takes is one person fulfilling those stereotypes to perpetuate them.

2.)People and/or society will view you by how you let them view you.

Words from Anyenda

What is Social Justice? Yesterday, I came home from a meeting discussing how the Cacique youth program will use the Arts as a vehicle to educate about social justice. I have been doing a form of dance called stepping for about six years now. Stepping, for those who may be unfamiliar with it is a form of body percussion using ones hands and feet. One can think of it of choreographed clapping and stomping which draws a lot of its history from historically black fraternities and sororities. I have grown a lot as a stepper. However, even though I have been involved in many things that would be considered social justice and I have a lot of passion for some social justice issues, I cannot say I have done very much through the form of dance that I love. One would think that the progression would be natural. Doesn't it make sense that I would eventually think, "I am passionate about step dancing and I am passionate about some social justice issues. I should express my passion for social justice through my passion for dancing". Yet, I have not very much of the kind in my six years as a "performance artist".

I think that I am embarking on a journey or evolution of some sort. As an artist I am always looking for inspiration for when I choreograph new routines or design a new show. Walking home from what I thought was a good meeting with the rest of the Cacique resource staff; I started to think about the social justice issue which we will explore with the kids. How will I help them turn their passion for a particular issue into something that incorporates body percussion? I think we were given some good exercises that will help us focus. While I am sure I will be able to help them, I also want the kids to be the driving force of choreography and how it reflects the issue they want to express. So, I got to thinking about something for which I am passionate. I try to be a respectful young, black male. I think that men (and Black / Latino men in particular) are expected to behave in a way that affords little respect to others, especially women. This is something that I find difficult because I try to kind and respectful, yet I do not want to seem weak or a pushover. However, I feel by being "nice" sometimes I am assumed to also lack internal strength. So, in order to help both myself and the kids, I am going to attempt to choreograph something that pertains to the issue of respect for women and others. I am hoping to have it ready by my class on Friday. I will let you know how it goes. I also plan on using some of the exercises that we went over in the meeting as well. Hopefully, that will help the kids focus how they can use an issue as a muse for art.

To wrap this up, I read this quote recently "The secret of teaching is to appear to have known all your life what you just learned this morning". I do not think I would be an effective teaching tool if I did not do any learning along with the kids that I am expected to teach. I am learning just as much as I am attempting to teach the kids. The best part is I am enjoying what I am learning. It is allowing me to grow in my art. And it is allowing me to use my experience as a step dancer to help others grow as well.

some investigative work...

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