Our "WHY"

15 Agencies were represented on a February morning. We made a decision that we could do better for all York County students. 

Every student has the right to feel secure in their school and community. We do not "give them" permission to share but offer the space for their voice to be heard and honored. Our collaborative team has rallied behind a belief students have resiliency - strength, courage, and empowering creativity. 

We realize that this forum is not a beginning or an end, but an ongoing way of inviting courageous conversations to happen all over our county. 

We will continue to add student stories and insight throughout the year. Use this space to be inspired and to inspire.

Scroll down to gather more "tools in your tool belt". We are ready to build something phenomenal. 

"Our youth worked tirelessly to share the perspective of the experiences of homelessness that our young people face. As a service provider, my eyes, ears, and heart continue to be opened by the young people we serve."  - Megan Myers, Program Coordinator-Facilitator, Valley Youth House

* Josiah Showell (Joey) interviewed, early on a very brisk November 17th morning.


Homeless Youth Awareness
Could You Imagine?
by Jania Zamot-Sebright (Jia)



One night last year, 35,038 unaccompanied youth were considered homeless. 89% of those young people were between the ages of 18 to 24 and The remaining 11% were under the age of 18 thats 3,976 kids reported homelessness. Could you imagine? 



Homelessness can occur at any point in your life, but could you imagine being just under 18 with close to nothing and just about no one there for you? In the city of York, Pennsylvania homelessness is no stranger, but to these young adults homelessness is like getting sentenced to life just for being born. You're about to witness closely just how real it can get for people who, for the most part, don't deserve it.

Shaianne is 19 and has been on her own since the age of 17. We asked if she was willing to tell her story and she was more than willing. She began by telling us what brought her into homelessness. "I was working and my mom had access to my account. She withdrew money without my permission and that was the fuel added to the fire." 

She told us she ran away and was on her own ever since. At the time she was attending Crispus Attucks Charter School. A family friend introduced her to The Covenant House and she gave it a chance. 

Shaianne was dedicated and eager to get her diploma. She wouldn't settle for a GED. "I work too hard to settle for less than what I set out for. Not throwing shade to those who went that route but I want my diploma." Being in line for valedictorian, she did not expect the drastic fall that was to come in the future. 

From her friends being kicked out of the shelter and then arrested to being kicked out of school and having to move back in with family. Today Shaianne is back in school and hard at work with only one thing in mind: success. During the interview, Shaianne points out that there were too many times where she wanted to give up and the only thing keeping her in line was God and prayer. For Shaianne it took being homeless to see the bigger picture. 

We asked her whether she thinks males or females have it worse when it comes to being homeless and she said "I think females have gone through the most because at this time they are very vulnerable and some are willing to do anything just for a place to sleep." As a female, she's expressed that female hygiene products are hard to come by and that some females end up insecure due to this experience.  


Having IMPORTANT(maybe CHALLENGING) Conversations

There are different ways to create spaces for everyone to share

There is an "art" to listening and conversations. Practice can be messy and incredibly rewarding. Encouraging York County to boldly walk in resiliency, compassion, and courage.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS by Peter Block

Peter has spent his life encouraging community engagement. Attached is a PDF of a short guide to six different, important conversations to have within any community.

The video's audio is not stellar but the content is worth it!

RESTORATIVE CONVERSATIONS

Circling up within a family, classroom or community will nurture awareness and empathy. When used consistently (instead of only when there is a negative situation) growth, empathy, and accountable solutions are the result. 

For more information on this work, please, contact: 

LIU12 at https://www.iu12.org/

• International Institute for Restorative Practices at www.iirp.edu

or

• Cornerstone Youth Home at www.cyhYork.org

EMOTIONAL/ ACTIVE LISTENING

All too often, we tend to "listen" to others in order to respond with our own experiences or opinions. Emotional/active listening is based on the theory people are better able to own their solutions when they own their problems.

Many times it is challenging for someone to work through a solution when emotional triggers create cycles or distractions. Emotional or active listening is designed to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where the listener: 

1. Simply identifies the EMOTIONS expressed

2. MIRRORS what the speaker shares

and 

3. PARAPHRASES, without judgment, what is heard

This "space" allows the person speaking to hear and process their own story, problem, challenge. It is not designed to be a substitution for therapeutic support. 

CONTACT Helpline is available 24/7 to listen at 800-932-4616

The CONTACT team welcomes the community to consider becoming trained volunteer phone specialists. We are available for organizational training on how to better listen.