Spreading the Word About TNS’ Youth Forum

Recently The News School (TNS) from Saint Agatha went to Saint Luke’s Church of God to spread the word about the West Side Youth Empowerment Forum. They also interviewed Jesse White (Illinois Secretary of State), Fred Bridges (National Sales Director), and Bishop Simon Gordan.

The forum is free and open to the public, it will also be recorded and live-streamed on Facebook, YouTV1, YouTube, and Roku. Devonte Matthews and Kenneth Mazerat, journalists from The News School, will host the West Side Youth Empowerment Forum. 

Bridges’ Thoughts on Seven Mindsets

A multi-media Journalist from The News School, Daylontie Jasper, asked Bridges, “What do you think about setting mindsets?” The National Sales Director acknowledged that setting mindsets is a social, and emotional learning curriculum that was designed to really highlight what makes people happy. 

He discovered the key to success comes with how people see life. It also comes from the way they think and operate. He has absolutely identified setting mindsets that individuals can adopt and bring their life. Also, the way they utilize and guide them for their lifetime. Not knowing what the future holds, we as a community can prepare ourselves to face whatever the future hands us.

Through those mindsets, Bridges delivered them through school districts, after-school programs, and mentoring programs. Not to mention helping the adults with grasping those skills as well. In addition to helping the students, there are also connections with educators, mentors, and leaders.

What kind of changes do Bridges think he can make for the community? To have the main focus on guiding parents to be the best role models for their children first.

It’s a fact that for many children, home is where they all learn their first lessons. Helping the parents understand how to be role models while holding the children to a certain standard, will definitely help the community.

This leads to what Bishop Gordon has to offer to the Youth Community. 

What He Has Offered

His objective for coming to this extraordinary opportunity was for him to connect with leaders in the community. Knowing that men and women of faith within the leaders of the church have a direct connection to the community.

He also stated that to have a perspective of what’s really happening. By gathering together and trying to understand those challenges, we can work more closely with them.

The News School held a youth empowerment forum on October 27 starting at 4:30 p.m. During this forum, youth will be able to ask a couple of political figures what they provide for our community and how they can improve it. The North Lawndale community has many struggles such as mental health, housing, vacant lots, and so on. This forum will allow youth and the community to ask the hard questions of those who have the power to change it.

Can we get the youth involved without forcing the political standpoint? He thinks we can get the youth involved and have them understand by being part of the solution. Not just the adults or outsiders coming to solve the issue for them. The youth community has a voice if even you take a look at the civil right movement.

Also who were the original shakers, it was indeed the children making a difference. The children were the ones that encouraged the adults to come out, join the protest, and really be involved. With that being said Bridges believes, “The youth has always had a voice and continues to have a voice. We just need to get them engaged by communicating that it’s good to speak up for what’s right.”

Bishop Simon Gordon

Gordon is from Trade Stone Trench of Chicago, in the Brevely area. Let’s find out what today means to Gordon. The importance of a chance to seek the torch being handed over by secretary of state, Jesse White. As White stands for Alexi Giannoulias to be the next Illinois Secretary of State. 

How will Gordon support the community with the current resources he has now? His current resources are an excellent agency in Beverly and a food pantry for the past 21 years in that area.

There are health services going on, so our desire is to be able to see. It is being able to provide for the community, politics, and the high office.

Written by Tiffany Fleming

Sources

Triedstone Church of Chicago: Bishop Simon Gordon Media

Alexi For Us: About Alexi Giannoulias

The History Makers: The Honorable Jesse White

Images Courtesy of Tiffany Fleming