ASN Youth Resilience Project

07/22/2019

On May 14-15, ASN's Youth Resilience Project partnered with Albizu Campos and other schools for a student self care conference. Students participated in workshops ranging from hip hop yoga to spoken word.

07/17/2019

ASN is happy to announce the following panelists for July 25th:
*State Representative La Shawn K. Ford
*Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli
*Activist Flint Taylor
*Torture Confession Survivor Darrell Cannon
*Social Justice Professional Dr. Elena Quintana
*Returning Citizen/Entrepreneur Yohance Lacour

Register today! www.asnchicago.org/systemicinjustice2019

01/07/2018

ASN Youth Resilience Project updated their address.

ASN Youth Resilience Project updated their address.

12/21/2017

For poor, black teenagers, depression symptoms are different, Rutgers study says

Adolescent depression is a dire public concern in the United States, and an even greater concern among black adolescents where, if left untreated, can disproportionately lead to an escalation of various mental disorders, academic failure, and related issues

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/kids-families/poor-black-teenagers-depression-rutgers-study-20171214.html?mobi=true

For black teens from low income communities, depression may show itself as conflicts with other and physical discomfort.

12/04/2017

Advocates Say Cyntoia Brown's Case Is Part Of The 'Sexual Abuse-To-Prison' Pipeline

"the overwhelming majority of girls behind bars had suffered instances of sexual and physical violence."

Cyntoia Brown's case has resurfaced into the national spotlight, calling into question how the U.S. justice system handles juvenile cases, particularly those involving girls of color.

11/27/2017

Tomorrow, help us raise funds to keep doing what we do! Donations will be matched so your money will stretch further. Thank you in advance!

TOMORROW IS !!! All donations to the Alternative Schools Network will be generously matched dollar-for-dollar. Donate tomorrow through our page and help us continue to CREATE FUTURES EVERY DAY!

11/20/2017

Childhood trauma can last forever

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris' book coming soon, called 'The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-term Effects of Childhood Adversity.' She's such an important leader in this movement. Check out her TEDMED talk here.

11/16/2017

neurosciencenews.com

Wow!

11/15/2017

Equine therapy for PTSD studied at Columbia University

Animals can be a powerful part of our own healing.

The Man O’ War Project aims to determine how equine-assisted therapy can be most effectively used to help veterans with PTSD.

11/14/2017

Our awesome ASN YES Program representatives attended Kimberly M. Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Juvenile Justice Conversation Series, Keeping Youth in School And Out of the Justice System. Besides providing the space and opportunity for folks to engage in the important conversation, Kim even took the time to snap a pic with the team! Thank you to everyone working to support youth in whatever ways you can.

11/13/2017

Rachel Yehuda — How Trauma and Resilience Cross Generations

Great listen!

"We're starting to understand that just because you're born with certain genes, you're not in a biologic prison as a result of those genes."

11/06/2017

NYC Mayor's Office on Twitter

This! ❤️

“Our kids need to know that being mentally okay is as important as being physically okay. https://t.co/P5iDsA56Li”

11/01/2017

Suspensions Don’t Teach

Restorative practices, done right, teach us how to be in community and to repair harm with empathy.

Restorative practices—an alternative to punitive justice—keep kids in school, where they can learn how their behavior affects others.

10/26/2017

Our team had a blast today trying out a piece of our new "Creating Self Healing Communities" workshop during the ASN All Staff Meeting. The Youth Resilience Project believes that the notion of self-care does not start and stop with the individual – it is the responsibility of the organization as a whole to create the time, space, and practices for people and departments to come together to reflect, connect, renew, and build resilience as a community.

10/24/2017

It was an honor to represent ASN Youth Resilience Project this morning and to be a part of the panel and conversation with such passionate participants and colleagues at Health & Medicine Policy Research Group's Illinois ACES Response Collaborative conference, Community Connections: Pathways to Safety, Healing and Wellness. Thank you for providing space to share knowledge, wisdom and experiences across the communities of Chicago. We need more opportunities like this!

10/19/2017

A Year Of Love And Struggle In A New High School

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/10/18/558104287/a-year-of-love-and-struggle-in-a-new-high-school

When this new boys-only, public school in Washington, D.C., opened its doors in August 2016 to a class of roughly 100 freshmen of color, NPR and Education Week were there. All. Year.

10/18/2017

Community Connections: Pathways to Safety, Healing, and Wellness

Chicagoans, come out to this event next week, Community Connections at Chicago Teacher's Union Foundation. It's only $25 and ASN's Youth Resilience Project will be a part of the panel, Building Trauma Responsive Schools.

10/17/2017

Why We Need Trauma-Sensitive Schools (updated 8/2017)

!!!! Yep !!!!

This is an updated version of "Why We Need Trauma-Sensitive Schools" originally published in December 2016 All children need safe and supportive environments...

10/03/2017

Why Self-Care Plan is Crucial to Trauma Therapy | Expressive Trauma Integration - Responding to Trauma & PTSD

Self Care is crucial, especially in times like these.

Have you ever vowed, “Tomorrow I am going to begin a healthy lifestyle” or “Starting tomorrow I’m only eating healthy foods….” and somehow, tomorrow never comes...

10/02/2017

Never Give Up: A Video by Youth for Youth [FULL]

Never Give Up: A video by youth for youth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8XaYdQfV3A

This gripping film features a highly diverse cast of seven adolescents and young adults who examine the shared and unique challenges faced, mistakes made, an...

10/02/2017

Wisconsin aims to be first trauma-informed state; seven state agencies lead the way

Way to go Wisconsin! Now, when will Illinois follow suit?

Here in California, many people think that it’s only liberal Democrats who have a corner on championing the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and putting it into practice. That might …

09/19/2017

Just Like My Mother: How We Inherit Our Parents’ Traits and Tragedies

Just Like My Mother: How We Inherit Our Parents’ Traits and Tragedies

The intergenerational transfer of trauma was first recognized in the kids of Holocaust survivors and has since been identified in kids of Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees.

09/19/2017

San Diego County Juvenile Hall Treats Traumatized Youth with Innovative Program - California State Association of Counties

We need more programs like this.

Please click here to watch a brief video about this program.It’s no secret that youths incarcerated in Juvenile Hall are ...

09/13/2017

Obama Foundation Fellowship

A wonderful opportunity for all you changemakers out there. Take a look!

The Obama Foundation Fellowship program seeks to support outstanding civic innovators from around the world in order to amplify the impact of their work and to inspire a wave of civic innovation.

09/12/2017

Expressive Trauma Integration (ETI) - An Intervention Framework | Expressive Trauma Integration - Responding to Trauma & PTSD

A helpful way to think about integrating trauma responsive practices.

I have spent over a decade researching trauma. My sources have been writings of pioneers in the field, fellow practitioners reflecting on their work, my own li...

08/26/2017

Teaching Teachers About Trauma Helps Kids Learn

Teaching Teachers About Trauma Helps Kids Learn

Liam Rusmisel is a different kid this year. On the first day of kindergarten he walked into the classroom, head held high, according to his teachers. This

08/12/2017

Why Self-Regulation Is the Most Important Thing in the World

Agreed.

Most human problems are rooted in dysregulation of the nervous system. Self-regulation, a goal of somatic therapy, keeps the fight/flight response in balance.

08/04/2017

The Repair of Early Trauma: A “Bottom Up” Approach

Developmental trauma CAN be repaired, but "only if treatment is organized in the order in which the brain" needs to heal.

08/03/2017

Kids In Violent Neighborhoods Suffer Sleep Problems, Affecting Learning

This makes a lot of sense and is even more evidence to support the notion that treating trauma has to happen at the communal level, not just individually or even at just the school level. Entire communities, neighborhoods and cities must become trauma informed and trauma responsive. How can we help spread this message?

Researchers say stress affects cortisol levels in children.

08/03/2017

Mindfulness: When Not to Use It

A good reminder that mindfulness/meditation may be contraindicated for healing some forms of trauma.

It turns out this powerful practice may not be the best for healing trauma. Here's why.

08/02/2017

ASN Youth Resilience Project

It's a goal of ours to employ high school graduates to become future leaders in the world of trauma-informed practice by training community organizations, after school programs, local businesses, churches and political leaders on trauma, self-care & vicarious trauma, community building, and restorative practices. ASN Youth Resilience Project believes that youth empowerment, choice, and voice will help to transform trauma into healing, love, and resilience.

07/31/2017

How to Build Resilience in Midlife

Calling all adult caretakers and caregivers! This is a great article to remind us that we, too, can still build our own resilience in the face of life challenges.

There are active steps you can take during and after a crisis to speed your emotional recovery.

07/23/2017

How a pioneering school helps excluded children control their rage

Fascinating.

Revolutionary project at Haywood Grove school is giving another chance to 42 children who have been taken out of mainstream primaries

07/13/2017

Everyday trauma reshapes Rochester schools' approach to teaching and supervision

Great article on work being done in Rochester, NY.

Adults in Rochester schools are focusing on acknowledging the trauma many students bear with them in the classroom.

07/12/2017

Reimagining failure: ‘Last-chance’ schools are the future of American high schools - The Hechinger Report

It's been awhile since we posted, but this, we had to share!

BOSTON, Mass. — At Boston Day and Evening Academy, there are no such things as freshmen, F’s or detention. Sixteen-year-olds share classrooms with 20-somethings, students earn diplomas at their own pace and if anyone has a problem with a peer, they’re encouraged to talk about it like adults. It is f...