Meet the Staff Vice President
WE BELIEVE
Saliha Nelson Northwestern University Graduate, BS
ELDERS are the ANCHORS of the community
Shedia Nelson Programs Manager, Artistic Director & Newsletter Editor
PARENTS are the COACHES and
Hawai`i Pacific University Graduate, BA
RITES
OF PA SSAGE
YOUTH are the DRIVERS for CHANGE!
Urgent, Inc.’s mission is to empower young minds to transform their communities.
FEBR U 2013 ARY ISSUE
Mentor Candice Anderson, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, BFA Mentor Terrance Cribbs-Lo`rrant Bethune Cookman, BA, Florida International University, MS pending Youth Advisory Chair Tanisha Fleming Turner Tech SHS
Inside this issue: Events
2
Advice/ Events
3-4
Poetry
5-6
Calendar
7
Who inspires the best in you?
URGENT, Inc. Center for Empowerment & Education CE2 1000 NW 1st Ave., Ste 100 Miami, FL 33136 (O) 786.439.154 (F) 866-811-7778 Shedia Nelson, Programs Manager Cel: 305.586.6694 www.urgentinc.org Email: Shedia@urgentinc.org WE VALUE: Patience Responsibility Learning Teamwork Innovation Compassion Reciprocity
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RITES OF PASSAGE NEWS
Miami Dade County Bar Association: Horizons Committee Provides Fieldtrip
When: Saturday, February 2nd Sierra Club Miami Inner City Outings
What: Biking!
Resume Workshop At University of Miami
When: Saturday, February 16, 2013 What: Domestic Violence Workshop
When: February 23rd Limited to TOP 10 members who can ride a bike Biking in the Everglades in Shark Valley
Thursday, February 21st at Edison Business Etiquette Workshop VISUAL ART AND
Must attend pre trip meeting with Sierra Club on Wednesday, February 20th
CRITICAL ISSUES
And bring complete and signed fieldtrip forms with parent/guardian signature to meeting!
When: Wednesday, Feb
On Time: 3-5pm
Time: 4:30-5pm
Become eligible for Summer Career Mentor Paid Internship SUBMIT 1-3RD TERM GRADES, NO D’S OR F’S POLISHED TYPED: RESUME
EMPLOYABILITY READINESS FORMS
Teamwork
“She Kept Her Bra On!: Chroni-
Innovation
CAREER RESEARCH
Compassion
cles of Teenage Love Affair” Original youth led interactive theatrical production
ATTEND 12 EMPLOYABILITY SESSIONS
COVER LETTER THANK YOU LETTER INTERNSHIP APPLICATION PHONE/BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
DEMONSTRATE ALL CORE VALUES: Patience Responsibility Learning
Reciprocity
Complete PORTFOLIO
SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013
due MARCH 30, 2013 TO QUALIFY FOR INTERNSHIP
TICKETS: $15/ADULTS $5/STUDENTS
Awesome Resume Workshop with University of Miami’s Law student Mentors
Coral Gables, FL—Sixteen young ladies participated in a resume workshop in preparation to earn a summer mentor internship. Successful collaboration of partnerships orchestrated by Miami Dade Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Association’s Horizon’s Committee, Hands 2 Help, Inc.’s Passage to Womanhood and University of Miami’s Law student organization with URGENT, Inc. ensured everyone finished typing their resume. Tracy Jean’s college student mentor Ryan McCarthy “enjoyed hearing about Tracy’s accomplishments and putting it on paper.” Katura Leach appreciated “meeting this lovely lady [Renee Kramer, college student mentor who] helped me improve my resume,” reported Jasmine Clarke and Yaxsandra Perez.
Dear Blue Rain, At night, I used to lay in my bed crying. I’ll just pretend what he said didn’t hurt. Sincerely, Lost Dear Lost, You’re not alone feeling this way. Your feelings are valid. When some kids grow up learning that they’re not the center of their parent/guardian’s attention they look for a substitute. They may think just because someone is texting you, they like you and you have to immediately respond
back or risk your feelings getting hurt. It can be hard and frustrating when a parent/ guardian is constantly texting you asking where you are and who you’re with while having to respond to your boyfriend/ girlfriend who’s asking the same thing practically all the time. From a parental standpoint, parents usually worry about your safety versus a boyfriend/girlfriend who wants to dominate how you spend your time when you’re not with them. Textual harassment is when someone sends more than 20 texts an hour “asking all them questions.” This is a form of teen dating violence (abuse). You don’t need a guy/girl to text you in order to feel special. Don’t give your heart and time away to someone who doesn’t value you.
Sincerely, Blue Rain
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RITES OF PASSAGE NEWS
Camping with Sierra Club’s Miami Inner City Outings Jupiter, FL—Ten young ladies enjoyed rural camping in partnership with Miami Inner City Outings at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Many of the young ladies had never been camping further than their back yard if at all nor have ever visited Jupiter, FL. Guadalupe Augustin learned how to identify native Florida plants and realized that “I’m not really scared of nature.” For Tracy Jean who had never been camping she “loved camping and was interested in learning about plants.” One of the younger campers like Pretty Mosely “had fun and got over my fear of canoeing and camping.” Elena Huezo plans to “remove invasive plants from my house and allow native plants to grow.” Tanisha Fleming plans on “becoming a junior ICO leader.”
Join the Paint Party!: URGENT, Inc. is Creating a Legacy in Celebrating Black History
Overtown—Join URGENT, Inc.’s Paint Party!: an initiative for building literacy through arts and culture. Come celebrate preservation of Historic Dorsey Park on Friday, March 22, 2013 from 8:30am—3:30pm. A community paint-a-thon fund raiser in efforts to bring people together to help transform Dorsey Park in commemoration of the Negro League Baseball. Paint with local mentoring artists and internationally renown and celebrated artist Kadir Nelson!
REVITALING MIAMI’S HISTORIC
DORSEY PARK, HOME OF OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL IN OVERTOWN!
Dorsey Park located at 1701 NW 1st Ave., Miami, FL 33136. Please register to participate. Call (305) 915-3195 or email: Emily@urgentinc.org
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RITES OF PASSAGE NEWS
Snaps! Poetic Youth Expressions Just because I’m Haitian doesn’t mean I’m a bad person Just because I have a self-esteem Doesn’t mean I’m full of myself Just because I have a mean look doesn’t mean I’m a mean person Just because I love dancing Doesn’t mean I love dancing Doesn’t mean I’m all over the place By Zaria Johnson Just because I’m feisty doesn’t mean I’m not a good friend Just because I’m Haitian doesn’t mean I’m a bad person Just because I’m Black doesn’t mean I’m racist Just because I’m tall doesn’t mean I don’t like short people Just because I’m young doesn’t mean you could boss me around By Jutoria Barthelemy Just because I’m Hispanic doesn’t mean I’m racist Doesn’t mean I like Hip-Hop music Just because I’m loud Doesn’t mean I’m proud Doesn’t mean it’s significant to me And I try to figure out how Just because I look Dominican doesn’t mean that I’m on Medicare Doesn’t mean I am like others By Tiffany Alfonso Where I’m from I’m told that Blacks are dangerous I am from a family that is Dominican and Haitian Just because I’m Black doesn’t mean I’m ignorant, stupid and dangerous I am Beautiful, Strong and Intelligent
I laugh when I’m having a good time I am living like a middle class person I think I can do anything I set my mind to Where I’m from in Miami I am Beautiful, Strong and Intelligent By Ronata Dieujuste Looking at Her Looking at her I see the bright smile. The brighter it gets the more in depth her secrets lay. Her lips speak the elegant words of her life.. Looking at her I see her eyes… oh how I gaze into them trying to sneak a peek of her soul. Being with her I can fall in love over and over. Her personality is what I love the most. Not to boast about, but don’t get mixed up with her attitude. Her sassy is not her classy… Looking at her The curves of her body would make a good driver swerve in traffic. Looking at her… Her talents could brighten up your darkest days. I just wish I had more time to talk to her. More time to cuddle and sleep with her on cold winter night. I always tell her to try to be happy sometimes. Now looking at
her… I see.. ME! By Kimberly Larosiliere Something I wanna hear more is how much you really care about me. I wanna hear how much you love me!! I love my smile I love my eye and how pretty they look I love everything about me because I feel I am unstoppable. By Brielle Gibson Who I Am
Who am I? Am I tall, skinny, short or fat Am I humorous, talented, independent or smart Who am I? Am I sexy, fine, pretty or Beautiful Who am I? Am I mean, nice, careless or reliable Who am I? I am Kiara Tammy Carey A beautiful, strong, Black woman who loves herself. By Kiara Carey
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Snaps! Poetic Youth Expressions
Me, Myself and I Who am I?
on your face The fussing and arguing I won’t complain I’ll just snap and let you explain. The foul language will not be apart of my relationship. I respect you and you’ll respect me! Treat Me Right
The girl who’s smile can Brighten up any room The girl who has a personality That you will fall in love with The girl who has a heart Filled with precious gold. Her name is Tracy & this is who she is. By Tracy Jean In this heart there Is... LOVE Family Myself Friends And God By Guadalupe Augustin Ways you should be Treated: The Woman’s Manual, the Key to it all
Remember:
A man will go as far as you let him. So if you tolerate the disrespect, he will disrespect you. If you let him mistreat you that’s what he’ll do. Establish boundaries Let them know where you’re coming from ‘Words of Wisdom.’ The things you don’t tolerate Don’t cheat on me or you’ll be 6 feet deep Lying, you bet not or you’ll be my dummy like Pinocchio Abuse, I wish you would I want you to verbally or Mentally or physically try it you’ll be wearing you’re a—
Respect me, be my all I want you to cater to my every need. I need to be loved, show your attention, show your love Show me your affection be here Let me know I’m not alone We need to establish ourselves So we must date first The key to my heart is Honesty I need that so deeply Acknowledge me in public. Let me know I am yours and you’re not embarrassed. Let your friends know I’m yours then I’ll know it’s real And if you play your cards right I might let you cross some boundaries Rule 1: Never lower your standards for any man/boy Rule 2: Never tolerate disrespect of any kind if they joke with you about it. Most likely they mean it. Rule 3: Respect his manhood. Never let a man/boy feel that he can’t be respected Rule 4: Always have the last say so in any activities you contribute to the Relationship Rule 5: Say what you mean and mean what you say, never confuse them Rule 6: Be you, never change
RITES OF PASSAGE NEWS yourself unless it’s necessary By Elouise Dawkins This is My Manual 10 Things I like Respect Money Care Attention Trust Affection 5 Things I won’t tolerate Liars Disrespect Games Abuse Cheaters By Chelsea Bentick I am smart and really sensitive I wonder how far I’ll get in life I hear voices saying yes, you’ll get far in life I see clouds in the sky trying to show me the door is open I want to have my family and friends right there when I succeed I am a woman of noble character I pretend like I’m in my own house feeling happy instead of melancholy I feel like I want to have my close friends with me I touch my heart and feel like it’s broken if I didn’t have them by my side I worry about losing anyone close to me I cry my eyes out if I did I am loving and caring I understand that life isn’t always easy I say if I choose the right road I’ll be okay I dream of my future all the time I hope I’m still living to see my future I am a positive person Never put my mind on negativity. I know I will affect my future. By Rosanna Desinor
5
Rites of Passage Youth Development Girls Club Meetings Rites of Passage Girls Clubs!
Where: Edison Park Elementary
Where: Edison Eduplex SHS
Where: Media Center
6161 NW 5th Ct. Miami, Fl 33127
500 NW 67th St., Miami, FL 33150
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays
When: Mondays Time: 3:10-5pm
Time: 3–5pm Rm: C-149
Where: B. T. Washington, Sr.
Girl Power
1200 NW 6th Ave. Miami, FL 33136
6015 NW 7th Ave., Miami, FL 33127
When: Tuesdays Time: 2:30-5:00pm Room: 203
When: 2nd/3rd Fridays Time: 4:30-6pm
For Who: Girls ages10-18 Closed: Holiday and Spring Break, Teacher Planning, Early Release Days and inclement weather *For more information: Call (305)586-6694 Work America, Inc. 430 NW 9th St. Miami, FL 33136 When: Mondays Time: 6:30-8pm
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Hands 2 Help, Inc.: Passage to Womanhood 3rd year partnership Sierra Club Miami Inner City Outings 8 year partnership Dade County Bar Association Horizons Committee, 7 yr partnership
THANK YOU COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Mi-Lola—Miami International Latinas Organizing Leadership and Advocacy, 3rd year partnership IT Women—Information TechnolProgram funding provided ogy, 3rd year by: partnership
9 yr partnership
Thank you for re-funding
Rites of Passage for 2012-2013 The Rites of Passage Program is generously funded by The Children’s Trust. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of funding created by voter referendum in 2002 to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their future – because all children are our children.