Kennedy is a 1.77 square mile community lacking inequality–reducing resources in Nasuffolk County . The community is home to broad social inequality, including underfunded public schools, poverty, high levels of gang violence, a lack of affordable housing, a lack of affordable health care, as well as high rates of youth incarceration. The 2010 United States Census reports the population of Kennedy, New York to be 16,258 people, with a mixed demographic composition including Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial individuals, with a majority of the population being African American. 26.7% of the Kennedy population was reportedly under the age of eighteen in 2010. 14.1% of individuals in Kennedy live below the poverty threshold and 89%
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The anti-bullying initiative acts as a ritual of inclusion and shared experience at the We Love Kennedy Youth Center; because of the way, it teaches non-violent strategies for responding to and preventing bullying on an ongoing basis. This experience teaches a common attitude that the participants may adopt to increase the strength of their community. The youth center creates a set of shared rules that all participants must abide by. Then, the observer expects that each participant will declare group affiliation to the We Love Kennedy Youth Center and its programs. To further test that idea, the observer will include questions regarding affiliation and a sense of belonging within the community when surveying and interviewing subjects. Lastly, through the staff and mentors planning activities, the youth will be able to participate in the community, ultimately creating a group connection. The “we” in this case describes anyone involved with the We Love Kennedy Youth Center as well as the participatory observer. The observer will also carefully listen for any exclusive sub-identities between and among youth, mentors, staff, and parents.
Slight ethnic, gender, and educational differences among participants may play a role in differences of norms and values. This is heavily linked to gestures, touching, and volume and pace of speech as well. For instance, it may be acceptable and normal for some of the youth to use profane language, but this may be deviant from the norms of others in the community and the set of shared rule. Similarly, one participant may find it acceptable to touch another participant in a way that others in the community would believe to be
The anti-bullying initiative acts as a ritual of inclusion and shared experience at the We Love Kennedy Youth Center; because of the way, it teaches non-violent strategies for responding to and preventing bullying on an ongoing basis. This experience teaches a common attitude that the participants may adopt to increase the strength of their community. The youth center creates a set of shared rules that all participants must abide by. Then, the observer expects that each participant will declare group affiliation to the We Love Kennedy Youth Center and its programs. To further test that idea, the observer will include questions regarding affiliation and a sense of belonging within the community when surveying and interviewing subjects. Lastly, through the staff and mentors planning activities, the youth will be able to participate in the community, ultimately creating a group connection. The “we” in this case describes anyone involved with the We Love Kennedy Youth Center as well as the participatory observer. The observer will also carefully listen for any exclusive sub-identities between and among youth, mentors, staff, and parents.
Slight ethnic, gender, and educational differences among participants may play a role in differences of norms and values. This is heavily linked to gestures, touching, and volume and pace of speech as well. For instance, it may be acceptable and normal for some of the youth to use profane language, but this may be deviant from the norms of others in the community and the set of shared rule. Similarly, one participant may find it acceptable to touch another participant in a way that others in the community would believe to be