Positive Youth Development and Empowerment: Increasing Opportunities for Youth Led

Health Promotion and EducationTuesday, April 1st, 2:15 PM

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NMPHA and NM CARES National Health Disparities 2014 Joint Conference

Panel Discussion:Carlos Flores - Coordinator, New Mexico Department of Health – South Valley Male Involvement ProjectAdrian Baca- Service Learning Intern, South Valley AcademyOmar Torres- UNM Student, Young Men’s Project, Advocates for YouthChristopher Ramirez- UNM Men of Color Initiative, Men of Color Alliance

Why Youth Led Programs?Research in peer education effectiveness has occurred

primarily in reproductive health education programs, and has shown that peers working with other youth increases engagement of youth in the messages being communicated. www.advocatesforyouth.org/workingwithyouth

Recent research in other areas of peer education effectiveness has shown promising results, but has also highlighted the apparent lack of study of peer education and its impact on other youth www.sc.edu/fye/resources/fyr/peers.html

Anecdotal Notes: Youth are intrigued and pay attention to peers who exude confidence and a command of specific health information, and attend to messages shared through music, poetry, rap, and other hip hop formats.

How Does SVMIP Recruit Youth and Identify Men for the Project?

Educational Programs in the Schools (2007)Service Learning Interns (2009)Video Projects (2009)Peer Mentors/Educators (2010)Project to Engage Artists to Create Energy 4

Change (P.E.A.C.E. 4 Change) Poetry, Rap, Arts Programs (2011)

Students With A Goal (S.W.A.G.)- Athletic Tournaments, Male Youth Summit, Arts/Poetry Programs (2012)

Exemplify Rap Group (2012)

• In 2004, research cited high rates of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, youth violence, and high risk behaviors

• In 2005, MIP began Project M discussion groups at South Valley Academy on health issues, promotion statewide

• In 2007, MIP began life skills curriculum in local schools

Peer Educators/Interns work with students to provide health information; they receive training in adolescent health topics and help to facilitate middle school and high school groups

Original Peer Educators/Interns, 2008

Adrian Baca: Service Learning Intern

Our Project encourages school involvement, project work, involvement in community service, and ongoing community involvement after high school.Adrian is in the beginning phase of his internship with the project

Adrian Baca, above, is a 10th grade student at South Valley Academy. He is a rapper,

originally became interested in MIP because of the rap program, but is now an intern who is helping with health promotion and outreach.

Adrian Baca: History of Project Involvement

Male Youth Summit 10/2012: First involvement in the arts workshops, performed in the poetry/rap workshop

Poetry Roundtable 3/2013: Attended and presented rap at Atrisco Heritage Academy

Poetry Slam Fiesta 4/2013: Performed rap songs and assisted with program

Summer Service Learning Internship, 2013All City SWAG Music Showcase 7/2013: Assisted in

carrying out program and performed in ShowcaseMale Youth Summit 10/2013: Assisted, PerformedBegan 2nd Service Learning Internship, Fall, 2013

Adrian Baca: Current Work With Internship

-Outreach and Promotion with SWAG Tournaments

-Has worked to build Poetry/Rap program at South Valley Academy

-Nicotine Prevention Project-Presented his project at South

Valley Academy-Presented Nicotine Prevention

Project at All City SWAG 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney, March 8

Adrian BacaRap It Up: Quit Smoking

Tobacco kills Tobacco production damages the environment. And tobacco exacerbates povertyhttp://www.globalissues.org/

Omar Torres: Advocates for Youth’s Young Men’s Project

The Young Men's Project, a national project, of which Omar is a member, is a council composed of young male leaders and activists from across the country who seek to engage and mobilize their peers on issues related to sexual and reproductive health.

Omar, in theblack shirt, sits with his national partners in the Young Men’s Project

Omar’s Original Training Began as a Peer Educator

Students and Peer Educators work on Media

Projects, 2010

Peer Educators and Partners Present on Media Development

2009

Omar has worked in participatory education, experiential activities and has presented at many youth led programs

Omar works with Peer Educators to discuss issues identified from community surveys, spring semester,

2010

Omar Torres, Peer Educator, facilitates session at Organizing for

Youth Conference, 2011

Omar has always had a passion for poetry and rap

Omar, Second from Left, Participates in the 1st Annual

Poetry Slam Fiesta at Rio Grande High School in May, 2011

Omar Joins Students Who Share Their Love of Hip Hop at the NASW Conference, February, 2013

Fall, 2012: Three students who had participated in poetry and rap as high school students came together to establish Exemplify.

Community Service: Exemplify rap group performs in the schools with positive messages, supports other rappers, provides mentoring.

Exemplify Rap Group

Omar performs at the Resistance, Unity, and Hip Hop Show, October 2013

Create a healthy relationship through CONSENT and communicating with your partner

Presented at All City SWAG 3 on 3 Tournament, March 8, 2014

Christopher Ramirez: UNM Men Of Color Initiative, Men of Color Alliance

Partners Who Share a Vision of Enhancing Support for the Health, Wellness, and Education of Students of Color

Christopher Ramirez has worked at the UNM Campus to increase retention of students of color and to organize students of color in building a community of students who are committed to supporting each other in higher education.

Christopher approached the Male Involvement Project to collaborate on youth programs at the UNM Campus and to bring middle and high school students on campus to meet students from the Men of Color Alliance

Campus Collaborators: UNM Men of Color Initiative

Men of Color Initiative:

Students from the Men of Color Alliance at the

University of New Mexico pause for a photo

Men of Color Alliance: Inaugural Retreat, Fall, 2012, with Lead

Organizer, Christopher Ramirez, at far right of photo

Above, students attend Poetry Workshop at Male Youth Summit, October,

2012

Programs which MOCI has helped to sponsor

Spring, 2013, SWAG 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Finalists at UNM

Through the Students With A Goal (SWAG) and MIP’s P.E.A.C.E. 4 Change, Events Have Been Held at UNM and at the National Hispanic Cultural Center

Student Performances at the Music Showcase, after

music performance workshops, held

throughout the day

Above, teams finalists, below individual finalists, in the 3rd Annual

Poetry Slam Fiesta, April, 2013

Integrating MIP Youth With UNM MOCA and Centro De La Raza Peer Educator/Fellowship ProgramJuan Gonzalez, Who Began With MIP in 2010 in West Mesa DJ

Program, Is Now An Intern Assigned to Work With SWAG Events

Juan Facilitates Art Mural and Activism Workshop at 6th Annual Male Youth Summit, October, 2013

2013 Numbers from Male and Youth Engagement

Educational Programs 2013

Male Participants

Female Participants

All Participants2013 Educational Programs

Five Male Only Events

288 Males 0 288

Eleven Coed Events

540 Males 554 Females 1094

Total 828 Males 554 Females 1382 Students

2013 Numbers from Male and Youth Engagement

Poetry/Arts Events

Males Females

Students Who Perform

Community Service Students

Total

Conference Presentations( 3)

56 84 29 169

Art, Hip Hop Workshops,Male Youth Summit (6)

258 108 37 403

Poetry/Rap Performance, Showcases (11)

2255 1789 Duplicated:71

12 4056

Total 2569 1981 Duplicated: 71

78 4628