Youth Work Blog Posts Of The Week – May 19
Each week, we compile a list of interesting blog posts and articles relating to youth and youth work from around the world – here’s this week’s list:
1. Whyismarko: Stop making assumptions about teenagers’ brains – This post by Marko is an interesting look at the conclusions being drawn by scientists about the brains of teenagers and how this is leading some to discriminate against youth.
2. Mid-Michigan’s Second Wave: Saginaw Youth a force for positive change – Youth participation’s the name of the game, with the Saginaw youth advisory board – comprised of 14-21 year olds – making a difference in their community.
3. RE Youth Pastor: Ways to connect with parents of students – Whether you’re a youth pastor, youth worker, mentor or whatever, you’ll often come into contact with the parents of the youth you work with. This blog post gives some useful and practical tips on how to connect with their parents.
4. Love 146: Who would you be if the world was right – I thought this was an interesting post about our motivations as youth workers.
5. Youth Worker Movement: Jesus was a terrible youth minister – Humor, cynicism and a serious point – love it! Have a read to be encouraged if you don’t feel like you’re making an impact in your youth work.
6. OC Register: Teen police academy gives Newport youth hands-on experience – Young people can often be suspicious of the police (and vice versa), so this initiative is a great way to improve relations between youth and the police in both directions.
7. Terry Linhart: The death of chubby bunny – This is actually a guest post on Terry’s blog, about how we need to make sure our youth work / youth ministry is effective based on the youth we work with and the community we and they live in.
8. Rich Crosby: 4 tips for developing leaders in youth ministry – Rich is the youth pastor at CCK in Brighton (England), a church we were members of a few years back when we lived in Brighton. This post has some ideas on how to develop leaders in your youth work. (n.b. On 27 May, the BBC is broadcasting a live service from CCK before the Monaco Grand Prix, so check it out!)
9. Baldwin City Signal: Baker grad named CNN hero for work with refugee children – This article looks at the way in which Mark Kabban has used sport to help impact the lives of refugee children.
10. The Leader: Businesses sought for summer youth employment program – Youth unemployment is still a big problem, so this article looks at a youth employment program being run in New York, including the launch of a Hire One Youth initiative.
And as a bonus……….
In case you missed it, yesterday I had a guest post featured on Jon Acuff’s blog, Stuff Christians Like. So go check out WWJD – What Would Jesus Design.
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Woo-yeah!
I have another guest post published on Jon Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like blog today called WWJD: What Would Jesus Design. It’s a list of 20 popular apps, websites and games and gives funny suggestions for alternate Christian versions, so go check it out! It’s my 3rd guest post on there – see US vs UK and the CCMdar for the other two.
If you’ve come to Youth Workin’ It having just read the post on Stuff Christians Like, welcome 
Hopefully this means you liked what I wrote!
We’re glad you’ve come to check out our youth work and youth ministry site. As you’re probably new here, this is a quick guide to Youth Workin’ It:
1) Blog
If you’re reading this, you’re probably on our main blog page already. If you scroll down, you’ll get to see some of our posts from earlier this week. To see even more posts, there are a few ways of doing this:
- Click on “Next Page” at the bottom of the page
- Click on one of the categories listed at the very bottom of the page – these list specific types of posts, such as ones relating to youth retreats, youth work games, youth fundraisers, etc
- Click on one of the tags on the right-hand side – this will display posts that touch on that subject, like self-esteem, life skills, youth behavior, etc
- Click on a month on the right-hand side where it says “Check out our previous posts”
2) How To Plan A Youth Retreat
In January, we published our first resource – a book giving a step-by-step guide to planning a youth retreat. You’ve come at the right time as well – the digital version is currently on sale for just $2.99, so you can get it for this low price on the Kindle, Nook and as a PDF.
3) Who we are
Youth Workin It’ is me (Stephen) and my wife (Shae) – find out more about us and why we do what we do.
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Thanks again for visiting Youth Workin’ It – we hope you find loads of useful ideas, resources and activities here. If you know any youth pastors or youth workers, send them over here too! Each week we provide:
- Youth work activities
- Answers to common youth work questions
- Youth work session plan ideas
- Tips for youth work administration
- Plus so much more – and it’s all free!
How To Avoid A Lame Youth Group Name
Whiskers couldn't believe they'd called the youth group that either
Earlier this week, we told you how to come up with good youth group names. The thing is, we wouldn’t be doing our duty unless we covered the flipside – making sure you don’t choose a lame youth group name.
We’ve all been there – you see a flyer, a poster or an invitation to a Facebook event that’s promoting a youth group. And you cringe.
Seriously? They picked that as the name for their youth group? What were they thinking?
The next time that happens, do the youth worker a favor and tell them about this post and our 5 tips to avoid a lame youth group name (spoiler alert: they may not want to be your friend anymore):
1) Long names - If you want young people in the community to come to your youth club, nothing says boooooooring more than calling it “St John The Baptist United Southern Methodist Of The Virgin Mary Reformed Youth Club”.
Unless you’re naming it this way ironically.
Except youth don’t tend to do irony. Even Alanis Morissette didn’t understand what irony is.
So best choice – avoid long names.
2) Badly named acronyms - If you decide to ignore the first point, take care with the acronym of your longer youth group name.
Calling your youth work project “Convicts Redirecting Adolescents Project” could prove tricky if people start to shorten it to an acronym.
3) Anything starting with Re - I’m probably going to offend 90% of youth workers (including Shae when I read this to her!), but here goes. Please don’t call it anything starting with Re.
There are so many groups called Re:vive, Re:new, Re:act, Re:generate, R:e:s:p:e:c:t etc, that it’s just not original anymore. In my opinion these names sound really 90s now, so I’m re:ally tired of re:ading flyers for youth groups named like this, that try to re:ach out to young people without re:alising that it looks lame and isn’t re:levant.
4) Avoid pop culture - It’s tempting to think that good youth group names are cutting edge and should be named after something in popular culture. The problem with this is that your youth group name can become dated pretty quickly.
Imagine if a few years ago, a church named their youth group MyGrace because of the hip and happening MySpace. What might once have seemed cutting edge now looks more dated than an Instagram photo.
5) Old person words – And by old person words, I’m talking words anyone over the age of 21 wouldn’t use. I’ve used some of these already in the post – adolescent, hip and happening, etc. If these words didn’t stand out, it probably means that you’re an old person like me (I’m 31). Yet another reason to have youth pick your youth group name.
Question: What are your tips for avoiding lame youth group names? Let us know in the comments below.
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Image via TraceyShaw, Flickr
Graffiti Art Workshop – Youth Work Session Plan Idea
One of the great things about youth is that they’re very creative. They tend to lack the the inhibitions that come with adulthood. They have a great idea and want to go forward with it. They just do it. We’ve shared about countless youth already that are doing amazing things with their great ideas.
Unfortunately, some great ideas get youth into trouble.
Like graffiti art or ‘tagging.’
Which in most places is illegal.
Use this graffiti art youth work session plan idea to create a workshop that can help channel that talent and passion into something positive and worthwhile that they can be proud of.
Read
Spend some time researching other projects and learning about how graffiti art can be an important form of self-expression.
Youth can read about the GAP project in Palo Alto, California which was a collaborative project between Police and a local non-profit, MMAP.
Or youth can explore the connection between self and graffiti by learning how a Native American youth used graffiti to explore his cultural identity.
Youth can find out how graffiti art can provide structure for youth like it did in Brazil.
By reading about different projects, like the Aerosol Angels, youth can find ways to be constructive with their tagging.
Watch
There’s a fantastic film about the graffiti art world featuring arguably the greatest graffiti artist out there today – Banksy. Watch this to get youth excited about the possibilities beyond just tagging their name on something (n.b. review first for language/content).
Exit Through the Gift Shop – A Banksy Film
Do
For a one-off session, dabble in the world of graffiti art online or invite in a graffiti artist to teach a few basic skills.
Use an online program to create a word in graffiti art
Learn how to draw graffiti names and practice
Create
Research and start an ongoing graffiti art project or consider holding a graffiti art-themed youth retreat.
Carclew House holds Cans Graffiti Art Workshops (Aus)
Mural Music & Arts Programs runs the Graffiti Arts Program (GAP) (USA)
Contact Graffiti Workshops (UK)
Amy Gascoigne started Aerosol Angels (Aus)
You can find out more about graffiti art and about artists and projects around the world at Graffiti.org.
We also have many other free youth work session plan ideas for you to use.
Question: Would you run a Graffiti Art youth work session? Would you extend it into a project or even a weekend-long retreat? Why or why not? If you’ve already done this, was it successful? Let us know in the comments below.
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Asking for Permission or Forgiveness – Bureaucracy in Youth Work
‘It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission’.
I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard that phrase.
As someone who follows the rules, boundaries and standards set out with a fastidiousness that makes Rain Man’s feelings about Judge Wapner appear laid back, I don’t do well with with ‘asking for forgiveness’.
I want the permission first. I want to know what’s OK and what isn’t. I don’t want to risk getting in trouble by doing something out of turn.
However, I also like to get things done. A lot of things. I like to make to-do lists and cross them off. I want to affect maximum change in the lives of young people each and every day.
Sadly, getting things done and having permission don’t always go hand in hand. Particularly if you have a lot of experience working for a bureaucracy like I do.
If you work for a bureaucracy you probably have to make the choice: Get permission and get a lot less done. Or get a lot done and ask for forgiveness. If you’re like me, neither option sits very well with you.
I have three tips for working within a bureaucracy – how to get the maximum amount done while still having permission:
1. Timing
Give yourself more time than usual before the project starts. If you know that it takes 4 weeks (yes, 4 weeks) to get a flyer back before it can go out, you have to start planning your projects months ahead of time. This may mean that you need to improve your time management and organizational skills.
2. Clarity & Permission
Get clarity and permission at the start of a project. Figure out what needs doing before you present it to your boss and get the necessary permissions ahead of time. You may need to do a bit more leg work before presenting it and you may need to make changes. Make sure you ask (and get written proof through email or meeting minutes) about how much latitude you have to make any further decisions on the project.
3. Follow Up
Often, what really slows down a bureaucracy isn’t the policies and procedures – it’s the people that have to perform every step within the procedure. It’s the secretary that has to review it, the supervisor that has to approve it, the co-worker that has to give input or the partner that needs to sign a form.
And I guarantee that reviewing, approving, giving input and signing aren’t that person’s only (or even primary) role. Be kind, be professional, but be firm. Ensure that if you have deadlines, you are still able to meet them by providing deadlines to others (when appropriate).
By following these three steps, it will make it a little easier when working within a bureaucracy and getting permission.
Question: Do you ask for permission or forgiveness? Share your stories and experiences in the comments below.
Image courtesy of Daniel R Blume, Flickr
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