EMPOWERING ADOLESCENTS Through Uncertain Times by Carrie Jackson
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he uncertainly that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic can be especially challenging for adolescents that have had portions of their lives altered or put on hold during a time of pivotal social growth and personal development. Hannah Dailey, a marriage and family therapist with CORE Chicago (CORE-Chicago.com), reports that she’s seeing her teenage clients exhibit social isolation, lack of daily structure, loss of extracurricular activities that are beneficial in shaping healthy identity development, anxiety and increased familial conflict with more time spent together under stressful conditions. Community and structure can play an important role in navigating this time in limbo. “Empowering our teens is vital in order to give them a sense of independence and agency over their circumstances, especially during a time that is so out of anyone’s control,” says Erica Hornthal, a dance movement therapist and founder of Chicago Dance Therapy (ChicagoDanceTherapy.com). Ashley Hodges, MSW, LCSW, of the Wellington Counseling Group (WellingtonCounselingGroup.com), in Chicago, works with adolescents experiencing crisis. “So much of what teens do revolves around their peers and friendships. At the start of 26
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the pandemic, there was anxiety about not knowing when they could see their friends again or go back to school. Now there’s a frustration around not being able to do activities they were looking forward to over the summer, such as camps, sports and festivals.” Finding a way to still connect is critical. “Accepting that screen contact is real contact is a step that many teens have already taken. Taking classes or sharing a movie across the screens can give a profound sense of connection, even when you’re not physically together,” says Malik Turley, of Hip Circle Empowerment Center (HipCircle.org), a nonprofit that uses dance, fitness and community to empower women and girls. Connecting online can help turn the feelings into something cathartic, says Audrey Petty, co-founder of Sojourner Scholars, a program of Illinois Humanities (IlHumanities.org), and editor of High Rise Stories: Voices From Chicago Public Housing. The program works primarily with high-schoolers from the greater South Side of Chicago to promote intellectual growth, community and civic engagement, and had to shift to online seminars for this summer’s intensive, four-week curriculum.
Photo Courtesy of Illinois Humanities
Photos: 2018 Sojourner Scholar program participants “Everything is knowledge, everything is learning. We’re talking about the things we can do, the things we must do, the things that are possible in this moment and beyond. There are challenges with the transition to online seminars, but there is a real sense of urgency and hunger and desire for students to have and to create this space,” says Petty. Ozakh Ahmed is the interim program director at Girls, Inc. Chicago (GirlsIncOf Chicago.org), a nonprofit that inspires girls to respond with thoughtful, informed decisions and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. She says that much of their programing has shifted during the quarantine, but there have been some benefits to that. “Great bonds can be made when we are able to come together as a community over a shared emotional event, even if that’s on a Zoom or phone call. I’ve had the opportunity to see my high school students more now than I would have if the meetings were in person. We take the time to really check in, ask how everyone is feeling, and the girls are able to identify others who may be experiencing something similar,” says Ahmed. With a little creativity, being at home can still provide ample room for growth. “Teens can continue to find fulfillment and meaning in their everyday lives through intentionality and structure, and can continue to build their confidence by actively trying new things,” says Dailey. True Star Foundation (TrueStarFoundation.org) is a nonprofit that provides on-the-job training for teenagers to create their own media and takes a hands-on approach to solving problems. Co-founder Na-Tae’ Thompson says that it is imperative for teens to conquer their insecurities and master communication skills. “By developing media platforms, teens learn skills associated with content creation, digital media and marketing, but they also learn the importance of leadership, teamwork, dependability, problem-solving and thinking outside of the box.” Hodges says that parents have the chance to have a strong and supportive role in how their teens respond to the pandemic, and encourages them to acknowledge what’s going on instead of normalizing it. “This is an important time for parents to
