Lynnette Grey Bull’s Post

Centring Young Voices to Address Old Problems In addressing the challenges Indigenous youth face in Alice Springs, adopting bold and radical solutions prioritising youth empowerment, reconciliation, and social reinvestment is crucial. To begin with, the government must formally acknowledge the historical injustices inflicted upon their grandparents and great-grandparents and commit to meaningful reconciliation efforts. This includes truth-telling, apology, restitution for past wrongs and serious investment in community-led local reinvestment programs.   Like most of Australia, the brutal reality of colonisation in Alice Springs and beyond is marked by documented massacres and violent acts such as the Coniston Massacre in 1928, the Flying Foam Massacre in 1869, the Barrow Creek Massacre in 1874, and the Haasts Bluff Massacre in 1928. These historical injustices have created deep-seated trauma and intergenerational impacts that continue to reverberate through Indigenous communities today. But we never talk about it. We blame the youth or the parents and breathe a sigh of relief as extra police arrive, dispersing our worst fears. But three things can remain hidden for so long: the sun, the moon, and the truth.     In places like Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, the legacy of colonial violence and dispossession has manifested in rebellious behaviour among both adults and youth for many decades, leading to daily incidents of drunken violence, crime and general chaos, prompting the imposition of curfews and emergency measures by the police. However, rather than viewing these young offenders as criminals and locking them up, we should recognise them as the whistle-blowers of a colonial system that has failed their families for well over 150 years.   Rather than Don Dale, we should empower these young people to become active participants in shaping solutions that address the root causes of their actions. They should be sitting at the table helping implement restorative justice practices that focus on repairing harm, restoring relationships, and addressing the underlying causes of crime. By reframing the narrative around Indigenous youth as agents of social change and justice rather than as problems to be solved, Australia can foster a more inclusive and equitable society. Embracing bold and radical approaches that centre young Indigenous voices is essential for healing historical wounds and building a more just and inclusive future for all Australians.  

The Youth Empowerment Program will provide funding between $300,000 and $1 million to organisations for programs for youth aged 10 to 17 who are engaged in, or at-risk of becoming engaged in, criminal and/or anti-social behaviour. It is expected that activities will be aimed at the participation of young people at-risk aged between 10 to17 to reduce the incidence of low-level engagement in criminal activity and decrease recidivism rates. The objectives of the grant opportunity are to: • provide alternative pathways for young people who are at risk of being engaged in criminal and/or anti-social behaviour • enable young people at-risk to break patterns of recidivism and cyclical engagement in criminal activity • help young people at-risk to develop life skills to prevent them from becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system, to promote inclusion, build community resilience and strengthen family support structures. The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are: • improved engagement of young people at-risk in education, work ready programs and the community more generally • decrease anti-social behaviour or engagement in criminal activity and an increase in positive community and family engagement • reduce the incidence of low-level engagement in criminal activity by young offenders and decrease recidivism rates among the same cohort. To find out more, including how to apply and eligibility visit https://lnkd.in/gWeGf2sw

The F.A.I.R. Fund supports youth-led advocacy and activism programs that promote fairness, access, inclusion, and resiliency. ⚖️ Fairness: Justice where all young people are treated as they deserve. The F.A.I.R. Fund aims to create a society where fairness prevails, ensuring that every young person receives the treatment and opportunities they rightly deserve. 🔑 Access: Equal and equitable opportunities for all youth. This tenet focuses on removing barriers and creating pathways that allow all young people to participate fully and equally in society. 🌍 Inclusion: Eliminating exclusion and discrimination, valuing all talents. Inclusion is about fostering a society that celebrates diversity, seeks out the talents of all young people, and works actively to eliminate any forms of exclusion or discrimination. 💪 Resiliency: Teaching youth skills to navigate life successfully. Resiliency involves equipping young people with the skills they need to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and thrive in any circumstance. Each year, two organizations are selected to receive one-time grants of up to $20,000 each. The deadline for applications is June 14. Apply now: https://buff.ly/3wG9tps Video provided by FAIR Fund grantee partner Firebird Community Arts with support from Hilltop Artists. #BrightPromises #EarlyChildhoodEducation #CommunitySupport #EducationForAll #ChildDevelopment #EmpowerYouth #Grants

Super interesting article - while the article talks about policy-making, I'd argue the points raised here apply to any social change effort. Whether you’re (part of) a legislative body, a non-profit, a university, or any other institution that purports to serve the public good, a couple of takeaways from John Maki’s piece are worth keeping in mind: 1. It is crucial to build relationships and, as fully as possible, understand the population you’re trying to serve. In my current role, I work not only with transfer students (a population that is very much under-served by the American higher education system), but with more niche, even further underserved populations within the transfer umbrella, including online learners, joint program students, non-degree students, post-baccalaureate/pre-med students, and veteran students. Each of those groups has its own specific needs that I constantly adapt to ensure they have the right resources and support. 2. It is important to consider not just what works in terms of the goal you’re trying to achieve (that goal could be reducing crime rates, recruiting more students, or increasing voter turnout as examples) - but also what advances the values you want to uphold and creates community. While everyone needs to work towards improving their bottom line, this shouldn't conflict with the imperative to improve people's lives or make your institution more inclusive. 3. There may indeed be consequences or challenges of a new initiative that you don’t expect - but that shouldn’t stop anyone from making change, nor does it mean that the change you made wasn't worth it. https://lnkd.in/gEcmpCD5

This [https://lnkd.in/giKpwCFx] happened a little to close to home for me this weekend. Social media swiftly flurried with opinions, accusations and the media opted to share multiple accounts of the story, the truth may never be known. Whatever happened, happened and I’m not here to make judgement on gangs or the like. A life is a life and no life is worth lost to violence. But I take the positive in that a situation like this has created air time and the chance to talk to our kids, to educate them on wrong paths [and to be cautious and wary in situations]. The continued comments on the forums make me ponder where we are at in a world where access to the hood and bad is easier then ever. Youth crime will never completely extinguish, but it can be prevented and we need to find solutions instead of prejudices and accusations. Comments ranged from parents need to be harder on kids, schools need to support better and the system is broken. Systemic challenges happen, be that crime, homelessness, education qnd unemployment. The same can be said for systemic success too. The release of the Youth Empowerment Fund: https://lnkd.in/gt5_NTME is an opportunity. An opportunity to look at partnerships and services collectively, to remove bias and to drive positive engagement and outcomes. Will it be the silver bullet solution, no, but funding like this plays a supportive part in a future where we see reduced youth justice engagement within our communities and more increased hope and belief in young people to make the right choices. #Grants #Solutions #YouthEngagement #YouthJustice #PlacedBasedPrograms #Employment #Education

Resourcing for Social Justice It's important to acknowledge the urgency of this year's World Social Justice Day theme, "#Bridging Gaps, #BuildingAlliances," as it speaks to the deep inequalities and injustices that require concerted action beyond individual efforts. In reflection on this year's theme, we've explored what resourcing for social justice looks like and some critical considerations towards ensuring social justice initiatives are bridging gaps, building alliances, and moving towards a fairer, more equitable society. One of the key challenges to promoting effective change in resourcing for social justice is the limited research and documentation of social injustice systems and practices. There needs to be more knowledge development and production on social injustice due to its recent emergence and recognition as a social issue. Additionally, there needs to be more appreciation and integration of survivors of social injustice in designing and decision-making of social justice interventions, which is a critical consideration. Another challenge is promoting professionalism in social justice response. Social justice, by its very nature, is passionate. Empathy, compassion, and passion are but a few of the necessary requisites for development practitioners in social justice movements to embrace and have as much as the professional requirements and legal competencies required to engage in social justice interventions. The balancing act of profession and passion needs to be revised, with a growing focus on building traditional professional skills and a limited focus on building social skills. We must build collective action, acknowledge diversity, and influence change in art, behavior, and practice to address these challenges. This is a call to development practitioners to introspect on how best to advance social justice, where its issues are critical but not prioritized. Link to full article: https://shorturl.at/ntDEP #socialchange #fundraising #communityphilanthropy #socialjusticeday

🌟 Unlock Drama's Commitment to Youth Justice: Aligning with the YJB’s Strategic Plan 2024-2027 🌟 At Unlock Drama, we are wholeheartedly committed to the vision set forth by the Youth Justice Board for a Child First youth justice system. Our programs are designed to support this framework, offering innovative drama-based interventions that contribute to preventing offending and reducing re-offending among young people. How We Align with the YJB’s Strategic Objectives: - **Local Community Support:** Our projects in schools, secure care settings are tailored to the specific needs of local communities, ensuring that our efforts are impactful where they are most needed. - **Addressing Disparities:** We place a strong emphasis on inclusivity, ensuring that our programs are accessible to all young people, particularly those from diverse racial backgrounds and challenging circumstances. - **Child First Framework:** Our approach prioritises the needs and potential of each child, employing theatre as a powerful tool for expression, learning, and personal development. We focus on building sustainable skills that help children navigate their lives more effectively. Through our work in children’s homes, secure settings, and educational environments, we provide young people at risk of offending with vital tools to reshape their futures. We believe in the power of theatre to unlock potential, inspire change, and foster a more positive outlook on life. By integrating the YJB’s priorities into our strategy, we enhance our contributions to the youth justice sector, ensuring that our interventions are aligned with national efforts to create safer, more supportive communities. We invite all stakeholders, from policymakers to community leaders, to join us in this transformative endeavor. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people and the broader society. If you are interested in partnering with us. Please do get in touch: www.unlockdrama.com rebecca@unlockdrama.com #UnlockDrama #YouthJustice #ChildFirst #CommunityImpact #InclusiveSolutions #YJB

In the run up to the #generalelection we've asked sector leaders to tell us what they want to see change across the six topics we cover: education, early years, health, social care, youth justice and youth work. National Children's Bureau chief Anna Feuchtwang focuses on children's social care, calling on an end to endless reviews and a shift towards investment in services for children and families: https://lnkd.in/ePD9NuaN

Programs and services cannot fully address gaps where systems falter.   We've been actively engaging with government because we know that bold, systemic change is needed. Everyone deserves equitable access to safe, affordable housing, early learning and child care, education and training and to live a life that is free from violence. We're ramping up our efforts to raise awareness about these critical issues, and advocating for progressive policy solutions to ensure we create a future where everyone can thrive.    Our advocacy is evidence-based, and grounded in the work that we already do in community.  We’ve been working hard on several advocacy priorities, and have been meeting with the following officials:    *Hon. Niki Sharma, Attorney General   *Hon. Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development & Poverty Reduction   *MLA Kelli Paddon, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity   *Hon. Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing    *Hon. Mitzi Dean, Minister of State for Child Care    *Hon. Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs Economic Development and Innovation      Stay tuned for updates on our advocacy work.