Community Partner: Youth Empowered Society Peer Mentor: Sean Yamakawa Site Supervisor: Mara Gibbons
What is Youth Empowered Society? Drop‐In Center is a safe space for youth, who are homeless or at‐risk of homelessness and between ages 14‐25, to get basic needs met and establish supportive relationships with peer counselors and allies that help them make and sustain connections to long‐term resources and opportunities.
YES drop‐in center has given me new insight on homelessness and many other social issues in Baltimore. I worked with staff ‐half of whom were once homeless themselves‐ to assist currently and formerly homeless youth. Case management( i. e. assistance on benefits, I. D., counseling, health care, etc.) was provided by staff, and was something I was able to help with. I was also trusted to hold down my own zones during drop‐in hours, which typically only staff members are allowed to do. This gave me the terrific opportunity to make meaningful, personal connections with the youth. They told me their life stories, and I shared mine, and often we would discuss social issues in Baltimore over food and drinks.
Tasks:
● Assume responsibility o cooking food for the yo
● Updated youth data in c new database
● Conducted follow‐up ca come in and provide up
I have learned exactly how difficult it is to be homeless in Baltimore. Even with the plethora of non‐profit organizations offering assistance, homeless people ' s lives are riddled with so many problems that not all of them can be solved. However, they are born into a society that expects them to be content and persevere with their obstacles without adequate help. Imagine being 15 years old, and having to pay for housing, insurance, healthcare, food, and water without your parents ' assistance. Could you have done it? Next time, when you hear about social issues of Baltimore, try not to turn your head the other way, and think these are distant problems. These problems exist within our very neighborhoods, right here in the heart of our city. I don ' t expect everyone to become an activist overnight, but please keep in mind the unfair reality of this situation. Progress starts with us. ‐ Sean