A researcher who was quoted in this report is Deanna Wilkinson, from Ohio State University. Deanna joined this Ning group a few weeks ago. I hope you'll all add your ideas to ways tutor/mentor programs can be part of the solution to this problem.
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ThisNY Times article says "There’s growing evidence that the toll of our stunning inequality isnot just economic but also is a melancholy of the soul. The upshot
appears to be high rates of violent crime, high narcotics use, high
teenage birthrates and even high rates of heart disease."
That’s the argument of an important book by two distinguished British epidemiologists, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.They argue that gross inequality tears at the human psyche, creating
anxiety, distrust and an array of mental and physical ailments — and
they cite mountains of data to support their argument. They created an organization called The Equality Trust, based in the UK.
I introduced the T/MC to them via a post on their web site. I encourage others to do the same.
Wilkinson, D.L., Beaty, C., and Lurry R.M. (2009). Youth Violence—Crime or Self-Help?: Marginalized Urban Males Perspectives on the Limited Efficacy of Criminal Justice System to Stop Youth Violence. The Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science. Volume 623 May: 25-38.
Wilkinson, D.L. and Carr, P.J. (2008). Violent Youths’ Responses to High Levels of Exposure to Community Violence: What Violent Events Reveal about Youth Violence. Journal of Community Psychology. 36: 1026-1051.
Wilkinson, D.L. (2007). Local Social Ties and Willingness to Intervene: Textured Views among Violent Urban Youth of Neighborhood Social Control Dynamics and Situations. Justice Quarterly. 24(2): 185-220.
Wilkinson2007pageproofs.pdf
JCOP_20278_pageproofs_withnotes.pdf
Wilkinson et al Annals published.pdf
I can see how it is difficult for many of these students to make the correct choices when faced with putting their pride at risk. By teaching a better meaning of how pride should be interpreted and protecting them from the violence they encounter so often, many of the students can take steps in a better direction. Our surroundings and peers affect us all. One of the 1st steps to changing how the students evaluate their pride is to give them options. If the only source of approval or recognition they have is from areas with similar definitions of pride, it can be difficult for a student to understand why the bad decisions they are making should be changed. When these students are given more opportunities and therefore have more to include in their qualifications of achievement and pride it can drastically affect their everyday decision process.
This leads directly into the context dictating how they face the world. This is a result of human nature. The severity of a situation or our thoughts on a potential outcome, influence many daily decisions. However, our experiences also dictate the world we see. If we provide these students more opportunities, how they see their world will improve and give them a different perspective on the context of these difficult situations they face. Mentoring and tutoring are bridges to this change.
Deanna will be a speaker at the May 27 and 28 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference in Chicago. I hope people who meet here on Ning will spread the word so more people come to the conference and meet here there.
Making tutor/mentor programs more available, and supporting them generously with dollars, technology, and networking with peers, is one goal of the Tutor/Mentor Connection, and the conferences.