Youth Development Peer Network

It is amazing to see when and where inspiration will strike. This morning I opened up The SF Examiner to get my daily dose of gossip. As I was making my way to "Scoop" on page 20, I saw the article "Romney scoffs at presidential 'tour of apology'", complete with a picture of the always-coiffed Romney with pursed lips.

I don't typically read the articles other then celebrity news in The SF Examiner, but I couldn't pass up the "tour of apology" line and his silly picture. So I started reading. The gist of the article is: Obama stop complaining; we are a strong country the needs active leadership and more defense spending. Well, that is according to Mitt Romney.

I found myself getting irritated as I continued reading. The article is just another damn justification for why we shouldn't apologize for past mistakes (it make us look like losers) and why social spending is horrible (it takes money away from our security). I began wondering why in the world I was reading the article, and it confirmed how much I can't stand the reporting in The SF Examiner.

Then, I came across this gem of a quote from Mr. Mitt:

"Arrogant, delusional tyrants can't be stopped by earnest words and furrowed brows. Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination, is the only effective deterrent."

And a light bulb lit!

I have always been one that loves words and how they are put together. I believe they have the power to change lives. They transform the spaces and places around us. They shape constructs, policy, and action. They bear hope and fear, excitement and terror, inspiration and depression, love and hate, unity and division. They emote.

Mr. Mitt changed me with that brief statement. I agree wholeheartedly with his quote. "Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination" is what is needed right now as we fight for marriage equality, keeping and expanding the social safety net, ensuring all workers have rights, reforming health care, securing equitable education for all, and much, much more. We must stand up to the "arrogant, delusional tyrants" of our business and political structures and systems that are continuing to erode our liberty, our rights, our basic ability to live.

We must prove through logic, emotion, and intuition that WE have the solution to OUR current problems. We must not wait for those solutions to appear from beyond. We must be bold and visionary. We must not be timid and reductionist. We must listen, connect, and unify. We must not yell over, tear apart or disparage. We must bear witness to our stories and our values.

In the coming month, the YDPN (name is changing on June 10!) is embarking on such a bold vision and action. We are co-producing a series of event over June 10, 11 and 12 called We Are Youth Workers. These events are meant to inspire, connect, and document. You can learn more about these events at www.ydpn.org. It is our hope that we break down barriers between people and showcase their stories and voice.

 

Additionally, we are building a coalition of individuals, agencies, programs, and business that want to shed notions of isolationism and segregation and unite in an effort to collaboratively support, train, and develop a workforce of youth workers that will bring about a new era of intentionality, connectedness, and innovation. Working together we can take strong, bold action that will change our communities and the world. As Margaret Mead famously wrote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

 

If you would like to join our movement, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .