If you’ve lived in Washington, DC (or any other urban city) you have seen:
• Elementary school students selling candy or wrapping paper
• Youth with buckets at the red light collecting funds for band uniforms
• Teens at the metro station playing go-go music on buckets
• A car wash hosted by high school athletes
If you’ve lived in Washington, DC (or any other urban city) you have also seen GENTRIFICATION!
Gentrification – the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents
How do we help urban youth thrive in a gentrified economy?
Business as usual is not acceptable! We must help youth recognize and capitalize on the trends. Big Momma’s row house has been turned into a condominium, the coffee shop and yoga studio have replaced the corner stores, and the neighborhood school has been closed. Metro fare is increasing, Uber is destroying the taxi cab business, Zip Car eliminates the need for a hefty care note, and Capital BikeShare has a location in every quadrant of the city. Urban education has to be a part of the urban renewal conversations. The days when we would could tell youth to graduate high school, go to college, and get a good government job are long gone – especially when students attend low-performing schools. If kids cannot be what they cannot see, it is our job to let them see how they can be a part of the “progress”.
• Trades like auto mechanics and cosmetology can incorporate entrepreneurship
• Food and Nutrition class can include urban gardening/farming
• Woodshop class can be expanded to include upcycling
• Environmental Science class can cover solar energy/green living
• Physical education can incorporate yoga and meditation
• The push for STEM education can include making natural beauty products, blogging, car design, and becoming an Actuary
Take a look at the links below for a glimpse into more trending possibilities!
- Tiny House Nation
- Salvage Dogs
- Treehouse Masters
- American Pickers
- Flea Market Flip
- Extreme Couponing
- You Live In What?
- The Color of Food, Natasha Bowens
I would love to hear your thoughts on how we help youth thrive in a gentrified economy!
Please share your ideas in the comment section below!
Nicki Sanders, The Packaged For Success Coach, is an experienced trainer, group facilitator, and program manager. She has packaged her Masters of Social Work degree and over 15 years of work experience into Packaged For Success, a training and professional development company. Packaged For Success provides career coaching to college students, entry-level job hunters, and experienced employees seeking a promotion. Packaged For Success also offers communication and productivity improvement training for employees and supervisors and provides consultation on building sustainable, impactful, socially responsible community programs.
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