Arlington Youth Focus Group
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Arlington Youth Focus Group
Date of focus group : December 29 , 2020 Facilitators : Eric Tucker , Vonetta Fuller-Williams , Brian Daugherty Demographics of the group
• Gender : Female ( 6 ), Male ( 3 )
• Race / Ethnicity : Asian ( 6 ), White ( 2 ), Black ( 1 )
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Summary & Quote Highlights :
Overall , the session went fantastic , we had some really good discourse and incite with the youth of Arlington , the noteworthy comments have been highlighted . Notes for Focus Group with the Youth :
How would you describe race and ethnic relations in Arlington , and why do you feel this way ?
• Isn ’ t super special , still faces issues . Very systemic in America and how it is rooted . Every community will have to face it . In our society every person of color will face discrimination . He has seen it a lot secondhand , which means it must happen a lot firsthand . A lot of microaggressions .
What do you see is important to the youth community in Arlington ?
• Race relations , criminal justice reform , education reform . Hold police accountable . Have school districts acknowledge racism and white supremacy . Get rid of barrier of people not wanting to talk about the issue of race .
• Definite concern about our future , it ’ s going downhill . Thinks this will affect future generations . Very big concern for her future , can she own a home ? Can she have a family ? Can she have a retirement ? All of these problems are becoming more aware . Apathy has been growing .
Provide some suggestions to help the Youth in Arlington .
• Thinks it would be good for the school district to have a focus group like this one , then make a curriculum on race relations and then train the teachers to help the students . Next generation to be more racially aware . Criminal Justice reform and have the police acknowledge .
• Agrees with NK on curriculum . Funds should be allocated towards specific education , sex ed , history , racial shaming , political parties . Feel like some funds should be re-allocated . Police , it has worked in multiple countries to regulate firearms to decrease issues . Every few months hears about gun violence .
• Really passionate about it , establish a new public transportation system . Get a bus system that would help bring together Arlington communities . That would help the environment and the economic systems . Arlington is one of the biggest cities without public transportation . Thinks this is important to move Arlington forward . If Arlington implemented a bus system , all over the city they could be more diverse with the rest of the city . She thinks Fort Worth and Dallas have had success with this . Space is always an issue and she does not see the existing ride-
Unity Council Report 118