In this final session of Confronting Concerns, the focus was on taking action!

1. Warm-Up

2. Review of Concerns: Post up the pie chart that shows the various concerns youths were polled about back in the fall. Briefly explain to students the purpose of the “Confronting Concerns” program and what the previous 2 sessions entailed.

3. Brainstorm: On a piece of newsprint write the word “Action” and ask participants to brainstorm various ways people have taken action on the part of a cause that’s important to them such as civil rights, women’s rights, wars, etc. Write on newsprint everything participants say. Some examples of taking action are:

• Vote
• Protest
• Fight / Riot
• Debate
• Movies / Documentaries
• Put it in the media
• Internet
• News
• Books / Writing
• Signs / T-shirts

4. Intro to slogans; Do’s and Don’ts. Explain to participants that they will be making a t-shirt and a bumper sticker that confronts one of the various concerns discussed over the past few months. They must pick two concerns and they will make a t-shirt with a picture/slogan for one and a bumper sticker for the other. However, stress that these slogans must invite dialogue with the other side rather than hinder or prevent it from happening. To illustrate the do’s and don’ts of slogan making, divide participants up into four groups and give each group a slogan. In the groups, have them discuss the positives/negative of the slogans and determine if it invites open discussion or prevents it. They will rate the slogans on a scale of 1-5, 1 being the least open and 5 being the most open to discussion. Then each group will present their slogans, pros/cons and the rating. Conclude with encouraging participants to make both the t-shirts and the bumpers stickers a 5 rating.

5. Presentation of Pieces: Have each participant present his/her t-shirt and bumpers sticker and briefly discuss their process. Here are examples of some slogans that the youth came up with:

--- "Let’s talk"
--- " What goes around comes around"
--- " You’re not cool if you drink booze"
--- "STD’s: It’s not worth it"
--- "Say No to Weapons:
--- "No Blood for Oil"
--- "Don’t prove yourself for the insecure"
--- "Follow your mind"
--- "Chastity equals a better relationship"
--- "Be yourself"
--- "Stay in school"
--- "Don’t let people start our dreams"
--- "Do not fall into peer pressure"
--- "Love is a desire for the soul, not for the body"
--- "Have freedom to think for yourself"
--- "Let your voice be heard"
--- "Your body is your temple, worship your prized possession"

Kathleen and Roshaunda, the youth coordinator, began thinking about how to present this program to the Peace and Justice Studies Association. We came up with the following:

---It was necessary for us to provide the activities.

---We believed that youth know and have concerns about society. Roshaunda felt that many adults don’t pay attention to youth and don’t know what is going on with them.

---Our program was important because we asked and trusted what the youth said through personal interviews.

---The planning group was very important because it mixed the old and the young and there was a bond of trust and honoring of what the others said. Members were very reliable and carried out what they said they would do. The team then spent time in interpretation and integrated it back to the youth.

---Ideas were respected.

---There was a fair share of tasks.

---Everybody had ideas ands they fed off each other.

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