Rites of Passage Fall E-Zine 2016

FOLLOW URGENT, INC.

#OurVoiceMatters @urgentinc

URGENT, INC.

SHEDIA NELSON

ERIKA DEL VILLAR

LOREN DANIEL

Programs Manager

Peer Educator Specialist

Youth Development Specialist

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Center for Empowerment & Education 1000 NW 1st Ave., ste 100, Miami, FL 33136 I (786) 581-7821 I f: 866-811-7778 I T: @urgentinc I Facebook

www.urgentinc.org

SNAPS To Date or Not to Date Yourself The reason why I would date myself is because I believe in myself, I love myself and I tell myself secrets.

- Rosebaby Montina

Dear Self, You are an awesome person. I love your laugh, I love your smile, I love your humor, I love you. Yes you are difficult sometimes and yes you are moody, yes you are shy, yes you are different but nevertheless, you are light, you shine bright. Yes you have a dark side nevertheless I still love you. Even when no one else loves you I love you because at the end of the day no one can be you.

In my opinion I believe I have a unique personality that most people don't have. I’m very understanding and trustworthy.

Although I am a great person I would not date myself. I’ve known myself for a very long time, so obviously we know every little thing about each other. I just want a new experience because I love encountering people with personalities different from my own.

-Edeline Mezinord

-Unknown How could you ever think somebody would ever love you when you don't even love yourself? You must love yourself.

You’ll find a man who will bring you sunshine when you when you only saw rain and when you only feel pain, he will only bring your laughter but you must love yourself.

I would date and be friends with myself because no one can treat me better than me. No one can love me better than me. No one can laugh at my jokes like I can. I enjoy having fun by myself like playing games, going out, eating, and so on. At the end of the day you love you better than anyone.

-Trevante Sturrup

- Unknown

Dear self you are an awesome person, I love your laugh, I love your smile, I love your humor, I love you. Yes you are difficult sometimes and yes you are moody, yes you are shy, yes you are different but nevertheless, you are unit. You are light, you shine bright. Yes you have a dark side nevertheless I still love you. Even when no one else loves you I love you because at the end of the day no one can be you.

- Anonymous

Loving myself is like a loving sensation that no one else can feel. A sensation people wish they could have, a sensation that surrounds me with values of love.

When I love myself I drift off into a land of wonder that no one can take me away from. I will always take loving care of my heart, my body, and mind. I will also around myself with loving friends that I deeply care about and that will always bring love to my heart. And one day I will be able to share this love and joy. It will be with the girl of my dreams but until that day I will continue to keep loving myself.

No I wouldn't date myself because I already love myself. I'm already in love with myself. I want to feel how it is to be loved by somebody other than myself.

- Trevante Sturrup

- Anonymous

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Art with @ICAMiami

Institute of Contemporary Art

Art with renown Morel Doucet, an accomplished contemporary artist from Haiti, graduated from New World School of the Arts high school. He shares his passion of messaging through mixed art mediums with Rites of Passage. The participants love using art to express themselves.

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SNAPS YOUTH POETRY Hey self, Here’s what I would do for you if I was somebody else. I would make sure you are the first thing I think about in the morning and night I would dream about you and food of course. I would treat you like the queen that you are.

Doesn’t mean I have wide hips Doesn’t mean I am feisty And doesn't mean I have stored anger Just because I am a teenager Doesn’t mean I don't know any better Doesn’t mean I can have a voice Doesn’t mean my opinion is useless Just because I am girl Doesn’t mean I can’t protect myself Doesn’t mean I am dependent Doesn’t mean I am not smart Just because I am a Haitian American black girl Am I worth hearing?

Am I able to stand for myself?

Am I worthy now?

I HAVE A VOICE!

-Unknown Beauty within your eyes, hard to see it when you cry, the bruises on your thighs make your self esteem die. So you go on to men when you can go to me, we, us, trust. Trust me when I say your beauty lays in the ways of your soul.

-Unknown

Just because I’m a girl Doesn't mean I like doing makeup Doesn't mean I like to dress up And doesn't mean I like spending time thinking about boys Just because I am a teenager Doesn't mean I don't have wisdom Doesn't mean I don't know what to expect Doesn't mean I need responsibilities Just because I am a girl Doesn't mean I don't enjoy sports Doesn't mean I don't like video games Doesn't mean I can’t play sports Just because I am a girl Is there a thing as being girly?

Why does being a girl mean weak?

Aren't I equal to you?

I THINK SO!

Just because I’m female Doesn’t mean you can take me for granted Doesn’t mean you can abuse me And doesn't mean you can treat me like crap Just because I am independent Doesn’t mean I don't need help Doesn’t mean I don't need support Doesn’t mean I am stuck up Just because I am Haitian Doesn’t mean I eat cat Doesn’t mean I am less fortunate Doesn’t mean I live in a shack Just because I am black Am I worth your time?

Am I ghetto?

Am I able to stand up for myself?

I HAVE A VOICE

-Norzilia Mezinord

-Unknown

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Participants reflected and planned their lives in eight specific areas ranging from education to personal growth. They mapped out their life with goal specifics.

Participants gained helpful skills to cope with anger with an exploration of understanding what it means to be in crisis mode and how to make healthy decisions. The exploration includes the levels and types of anger with application of assertive communication skills.

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Participants learned the necessary self breast examination process, breast and cervical cancer awareness with Planned Parenthood instructor, Marie Jose.

Three dedicated members enjoyed a trip to the library for some great reads sponsored by a private donor Karen Fryd in efforts to build literacy through arts. Thank you Karen Fryd!

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#OurVoiceMatters Youth Art Basel at Historic Ward Rooming House

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fieldtrips

Weekend CAMPING Provided by Sierra Club Miami ICO Jan 20-22nd

Jan 12th - “Venus” Play - 1st 5 members to turn in signed field trip form Jan. 16th - Day of Community Service Jan. 23rd - FAU College Tour

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SNAPS Just because I’m black Doesn’t mean I steal Doesn’t mean I gang bang And doesn't mean I shoot people I don't like Just because I am a nerd Doesn’t mean I always wear glasses Doesn’t mean I always watch anime Doesn’t mean I always play video games I just a person with a dream -Trevante Sturrup Just because I am a girl Doesn’t mean I have a bad side Doesn’t mean I have to be a housewife And doesn't mean I have to dress like a girl Just because I love Goth culture Doesn’t mean I am satanic Doesn’t mean I have a pact with the devil Doesn’t mean I can’t change one day Just because I laugh when I say something Doesn’t mean I'm playing Doesn’t mean you have to take it as a joke Doesn’t mean it is a game Just because I love the color black Who are you to judge me?

Are you perfect?

Are you scared of your life?

I am Erika and I am proud of my dark side - Erika Del Villar Just because I’m Puerto Rican Doesn’t mean I am a drunk addict Doesn’t mean I need to speak Spanish And doesn't mean I am not American Just because I am sad Doesn’t mean I'm not happy Doesn’t mean I'm not funny Doesn’t mean I'm not ok Just because I’m me Who are you to judge me?

Who are you to tell me I can’t accomplish my goals?

Who are you to run me?

I am proud to be me?

Just because I'm smiling Doesn’t mean I'm not dying inside Doesn’t mean I don't cry in the night time And doesn't mean I'm happy Just because I am insecure Doesn’t mean you'll be able to hurt me Doesn’t mean I'm not pretty on the inside Doesn’t mean I can’t tell myself I'm beautiful Just because I'm kind Doesn’t mean you can use me Doesn’t mean you can abuse me Doesn’t mean you can take advantage of me Just because I’m me Who are you to tell me who I should be?

Who are you to tell me I'm ugly?

Who are you to tell me how to be?

I am a professional chef -Gabby Sanchez Just because I'm Black It doesn't mean I speak in Ebonics It doesn't mean I'm a guy in the street blasting hip-hop because my favorite genre is electronic…my friend Billy blast hip-hop how ironic Just because I am a geek Doesn’t mean I'm a nerd…there’s a difference Doesn’t mean I get straight A’s and all…

Just because I wear glasses Doesn’t mean I know every answer on the PSAT, SAT, ACT Doesn’t mean that I am a bookworm Just because I’m weird doesn’t mean I should be normal What is normal?

You think I'm smart?

You think I'm supered intelligent?

I guarantee if you cheat off me you'll get a C. Dub step and electronic music is my ish…oh you thought I’d curse, expected that from a black right? (chuckles) -Deondre Marshall

-Jeremias Rivera

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Young Film makers Driving the Conversation WHAT’S RITES OF PASSAGE?

ASHLEY REQUENA, A PEER EDUCATOR PRESENTED ABOUT RITES OF PASSAGE PROGRAM'S IMPACT AT PAMM'S TEEN CONVENING CONFERENCE. HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/167528566 MY VOICE MATTERS

THE YOUTH LED SHORT DOCUMENTARY FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADVERSELY AFFECTING YOUTH THAT PROVIDED A RESOLVE. HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/178479994

WHAT IS A GIRL?

THIS VIDEO PROJECT WAS PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART'S IDENTITY INITIATIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM CREATED BY GIRLS IN URGENT, INC'S RITES OF PASSAGE.

HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/160053121 WHAT’S RACE?

"RACE?" ORIGINAL SPOKEN WORD PERFORMED AND WRITTEN BY AMANITA PIERRE IS INCLUDED IN URGENT INC THIS WOMAN'S WORK PHOTO BOOK HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/160053121 9

BE YOURSELF VIDEO

YOUTH ELEVATING THEIR VOICE ABOUT ACCEPTING THEMSELVES AND EMPOWERING THEIR PEERS TO BE HEARD. HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/131489684

CULTURAL IDENTITY

WHAT IS CULTURAL APPROPRIATION? AND IS IT OR WHEN IS IT OKAY TO BE WHAT SOME MAY CALL A “CULTURE THIEF”?

HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/167528665

URGENT, Inc.

Follow us on: www.urgentinc.org I Twitter: @urgentinc #ritesofpassage #hidden facebook.com/urgentinc I youtube.com/urgentinc An original youth led film teaser “Hidden” watch now vimeo.com/ondemand/keepingiton

Rites of Passage is generously funded by: What is Rites of Passage?

The Rites of Passage Youth Media Project is a trans-media edutainment (education+entertainment) arts enrichment program for middle and high school youth that teaches youth to critically examine, research and reflect on issues that affect their lives and communities using video, photography, poetry, and performance. Youth artistic works are celebrated throughout the year and expo events open to friends, families, and community.

@childrenstrust

@MiamiDadeCounty

Rites of Passage Media Project is generously funded by The Children’s Trust. The Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.

Community Partners: I C A | \ / | M I A

Rites of Passage Meeting Locations

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

@SierraClub #IcoMiami

Time: 2:30pm- 5:00pm Location: Edison high school 6161 NW 5th Ct. Miami, Fl 33127

@icamiami

@Dade_County_Bar

@IgnitionFund @univmiami #Promote2Protect

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@MDCPS