SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT AND TRAINING
Many of us work in isolation and are dealing with complicated situations. Many of us don’t have the training and/or support to deal with some of the situations we’re coming up against. We support each other through regular Get-togethers across the city where we discuss our successes, challenges and ideas. We also talk about the kinds of changes that we hope to make in the city.
These Get-Togethers are a safe place to discuss the impacts that racism, white privilege, violence and despair have on ourselves and the youth and families we work with. They are also a safe place to make mistakes and develop self-awareness.
These Get-Togethers have decreased isolation among people working with youth, increased hopefulness and created opportunities for innovative collaborations. We continue to provide free and almost-free trainings and safe spaces for frontline workers.
We are now developing a system to respond to the grief and trauma frontline workers face regularly.
REFLECTION, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
Our network is evolving several “Think Tanks” by providing safe places for people connected to the youth-serving community to come together for reflection and advocacy.
We have already been hosting open, honest discussion about how policy, funding, organizational structures and systemic discrimination affect programming and, ultimately, youth, families and communities.
We continue to provide a safe place for people to do advocacy without putting their jobs at risk. Our “Think Tanks” will eventually produce position papers and policy recommendations on issues affecting youth, frontline workers and the youth-serving sector.
In addition, we are currently laying the groundwork to collaborate with academic institutions and others to develop our own research projects.
We are also evolving the capacity to respond to policies, reports and emerging issues.
INFORMATION SHARING – THE ‘MISH MASH’
FPYN has become an essential resource for people who work directly with youth. Over 1500 people receive information they may not have accessed otherwise.
Our ability to freely share information and resources directly translates into increased city-wide youth participation in forums, apprenticeships, trainings, grassroots program development, volunteer opportunities and paid employment.
Our ability to freely share information has also resulted in increased professional development, employment, empowerment, advocacy, educational, networking, and engagement opportunities for frontline workers.
FPYN distributes information through our e-newsletter “The Mish Mash” which goes out to our list twice a week.