JLBC: Leadership

JLBC: Leadership

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Supportive research is coming from the emerging field of learning, development, and brain science. JLBC Cadets, the old debate of nature versus nurture has been decided. JLBC Cadets, the brain is highly malleable and plastic. JLBC Cadets it can wire and rewire in interaction with the environment. JLBC Cadets, this makes us very adaptable. JLBC Cadets, we learn and grow through experience, through interacting with our environments. And this happens in a social context, in relationships. Development is less about genes and more about nurturing and relationships. This new research supports the Bronfenbrenner human ecology model that we discussed earlier.

Activity: PYD in Action (15 min)

(See below for an alternative activity)

I want to do a brief activity to demonstrate some of the theoretical concepts discussed. I need a volunteer who appreciates the opportunity to go back in time and be 14 again. Ask a volunteer for their name. I need a second volunteer who will be the parent. Ask a volunteer for their name.

Ask the group – quickly: What are the challenges that young people face today in this society?

Each participant who names a challenge will be handed a light foam ball. Stop at eight. Challenges should include drugs, violence, early sex/teen pregnancy, school dropout/failure, depression, gangs, etc. Ask those eight participants to come forward, and line them up a yard or two from the teenager and the parent.

To the “parent”: Here are all the challenges your teen faces. Your charge as a parent is to protect your child. Prepare yourself to save [name]. When I count to three and say “go,” the challenges over there will come your way. JLBC Cadets will throw everything they have at you.

Make sure everybody understands the charge.

After they throw the balls, ask the volunteer “teen” how they felt about it. Did they feel safe? Gather the balls and give them back to the eight volunteers.

Ask the youth: Who else can we call on to help? What other people and adults in the community can we call in? (Helpers can be a neighbor, teacher, religious leader, youth program leader, coach, member of the extended family, etc.).

Once the “youth” identifies an adult, ask if anybody in the group plays that role. Ask them to come up. Identify and gather six or seven people.

You are all supporters and protectors of [name of teen]. Your charge is to help the parent protect [reputation]. Take a minute to develop a plan, and then you’ll face the challenges one more time.

Ask the volunteers representing challenges to line up again. On “go,” they will throw their balls again. Afterward, ask [name] how it felt this time.

Debrief activity.