I grew up in a very close net community in Markham, Ontario (Vicinity of York Region) which stressed out for was

on the a very close and net neighbourhood pride community. ensuring This The and the pride

This that

community you looked

personal best

community of the

and

interests

neighbourhood. hard work.

community neighbours ensuring

valued were that

education, genuinely

personal interested well. interest If

development in the family

and and

interacting need in

everyone everyone

was took

someone and helped.

was This

in

neighbourhood,

community

moulded me into the person I am today. I took part in many projects that enriched and the neighbourhood as well such as as and cleaning painting and up the up yard, the

gardening

landscaping

fixing

fences. Many of the youth projects was volunteer work in which I was not paid as a student. I took pride and valued that the community that I grew up in should foster pride in the environment and community. We cared about others and I made it my mission to reach out and get to know the people in my community that I was raised in. When something detrimental youth details people happened or who in my I community, it my gave be it graffiti duty on to the find fences out that or

violence about who

theft. did

made This of

personal me an

more the

this. much

understanding neglected the

committed

the

crime

and

community

were those that did not grow up in the neighbourhood and did not have the same compassion and values for keeping the neighbourhood safe and secure. I felt to a strong it in sense the of value towards that it the was community in when

neighbourhood

keep

pristine

condition

I first moved in with my family when I was three years old. I got to

know their

many sense and for

of of

the

neighbours was I

who

are

now when

elderly their

and

retired.

That was I

security

impacted me of

neighbourhood in in ensuring which

violated look raised. out

destroyed. the best

made interests

very the

vigilant community

that I

was

also

wanted

to

serve

in

my

community

in

whatever

capacity

would

enable me. As a student I helped the elderly neighbours in landscaping and painting. This but that to My I gave me a purpose the I the in not only I beautifying had of with pride that to I help my my and loved and

environment community commitment being with.

also

enriching in. help to

relationship maintained community a career a

that

resided and is

sense people

serve goal

and in

pursue

medicine

continue to work in the community of York region and help the families there. As a individual who is affluent and doing well economically can

assist e in developing programs and improving the health and wellbeing of the community positively they were to raised and in. giving There back is to a the vision of

contributing

community.

The community is enmeshed in in regards to systems of work and home. An individual who is unemployed and has dependents is at risk of being evicted if he cannot make mortgage payments on his home. His family

would have to rely on the social system and welfare to make ends meet. The family who is struggling socio economically thus has problems with

basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. They may have to move out of the neighbourhood that they were accustomed to living in

order to move to a shelter or another neighbourhood in which they can

afford. The quality of life may be affected. They would not be able to afford the same lifestyle by for be their family by such peers Many as the that same were school

(private). of them to

The prior leave

children to in

ostracized

accepting then city.

the

financial

struggles. in

families areas

would of the

have

subsidized

housing

ghettoized

The family are faced with hard ships of the struggles of housing such as mould, roach infestation and unsafe living conditions. The family

are further victimized and find that they are dragged down by the very systems that are there to help. My role is to keep them in the same neighbourhood that the children were brought up in and maintain some standards that they were accustomed to.

The

community

elements

that

were

protective

factors

was

that

there

were resources to rely on in my community such as food banks, shelter and community services that helped give direction and assisted with with

employment. There was counselling services for

the York Region Children's Aid the family and ensuring

that helped the

that

children

were not neglected. There was the Armadale Community Centre down the street that had a food bank and assisted with employment outreach.

There was the Church directly across my home that had a preacher at any hour of the night that was there to listen and reach out. There

was a genuine sense of caring. This was the protective factor of such a community. The risk factor was that in this community you were

judged according to the car you drove and the job that you had. There was little sympathy and member of everyone this could compassion the if one Due was to unemployed being such a and not a knit

contributing community Although

community. every

close

knew be seen

one's

business

and

'word

travelled'. it was a

as a protective

factor, at times

risk to the honour and reputation of those who abused the welfare and compassion 'cheating of the the community. and It seemed were that everyone as knew who was beat'.

system'

labelled

'dead

The

program

that care

would package be be

develop program' to

for in

this

community I would

would

be

a a

'neighbourhood business individually. family in the what. that I

which the

develop the and

would would would and

able able to

assess my

needs

of

family what a

assess

neighbourhood find out are

need

benefit from. the youth

I would

from the preacher, struggling and with

neighbours

which

families

would

rally

many and by

of

the socially

affluent to from that a This and

neighbours family. strengths would the or I

to would

contribute look at

financially, helping The case what the

emotionally individual

focusing of to

based be on and

perspective. a case by

"psychological basis. this I

sense talk

community neighbours Not

would

church

understand them too

family

really

needed.

indulging

overwhelming

much with what they do not need. For example if a neighbour reported that his son lost his on job what and due would then to an help on addiction his son. to First him oxycontin; I would I would address The

gather his

information

addiction

issue

work

getting

employment.

social issue he for is the

would be on for

"youth help the

addiction" and is enabling doctor at his

how the same addiction. is giving ways The is to

system that prescriptions masking address the his

relying pain pain.

that I

medical then look

underlying

would

alternate

"pain symptoms". This may mean less conventional methods of healing. I would look at the community centre to assist in having a program with meditation ravine and and by involve water. agencies Mental in get that I volunteers I for am to help with "nature that walks" are "the in the many Centre

already in

aware Toronto I in

there as the

community-based for that want right Addiction I was that in

addictions

such that

and raised

Health"

however pride health in on a

know the

community I would from of for not

values the he would youth. I

nature optimal grew also know up

community.

youth the and out

to

and

wellness there church like is as

benefits a a

place trust. to the

where the

sense base might

belonging reaching

rely that

project

this

be funded by the government as there are many such social programs out there, therefore I go back and to to elicit show the the affluent church members from them. and I

neighbourhood would and present nature

contacts a

financial the

assistance of that the

proposal for

benefits

meditation, youth

yoga have.

walks

healing

afflictions

these

Citizen these South

participation addictions and of East is

and the

Diversity: problems

The that in

root many

causes youth

for in

many

of

multicultural This is the

Asian

communities success and

York

Region 'face'

have. in the

pressure

academic

maintaining

community.

Much time the pressure from the family is so much that many youth cope by using illegal substances. In getting other youth to participate and

reach out to the other youth and let them know that there is hope. The "target been group" through my that the I will be addressed with the will be the and youth have who have

"same They

struggles" will be

addiction youth who

succeeded up in

through

program.

were

caught

drugs,

gangs

and

addictions The having other way

and that

have I

turned would reach

their get out

life

around target

through to

community participate through need

support. is by and see

the to

group

the

youth

the

other They

youth would models.

sports to

community more

neighbourhood youth

events. role

positive

The agents of change within these groups would be very compassionate, patient and kind youth who do not judge. They would be youth who have pride have cause in to of their have community kind and demonstrate and are genuine in characteristics. approach to They the in

mannerisms these youth

loyal healthy

their

making

active

contributing

individual

the community. They should have a talent for engagement and possess empathy and intelligence.

"Education

Connection":

The

way

that

this

message

would

be

communicated is in 'action'. They can give back to the community by having these and same youths the help enrich the community Helping out by in painting, church construction events and

beautifying

neighbourhood.

helping to pack food in boxes at the food banks. I would need to see that they are making a difference in the community and not just

feeding off the system. I would need them to be genuine change agents and help.

The

way

that

the

community

aware

is

aroused

is

through

presentations

at the school; church and community centres. I would attend and speak of the benefits of this community outreach and the success stories.

The

five

concepts

and

principles

of

community

psychology

as

outlined

in the text that have helped shape and develop this community outreach would be empowerment.

Our has

joint to

mission what

of is

Society best for

is all.

the In

betterment social

of

all we

mankind. are

One

want

justice

advocating

for the rights of those marginalized by the very systems that are there to help.

When one empowers the youth to believe in themselves and look out for the positives to and are. in better to Seeing and Letting in the themselves themselves. inward others for see run. then this will to give them hope to move for

forward them they

Continuing critically in the at

have got

mutual them

respect to for

look that

what

where their their whole their can

community is

genuinely 'huge' will be at in

care

wellbeing outcome. community healing

hoping them long

their that

recovery their

shaping the of we

wellness them they to

benefit the

Enabling to where

master how

and

actively

listening

are

and

work from where they are at the moment.