Greenhouses of HopeCultivating Youth for Social Justice at Rust College

cc: ProFlowers.com - https://www.flickr.com/photos/127365614@N08

Elizabeth Williams, PhD, Tennessee State University; Charles Williams, PhD, Rust College;

Hilda B. Williams, EdD, Rust College; Mohamed Kanu, PhD, MA, Tennessee State University

Session Overview• Describe the Greenhouse of Hope framework &

Rust College

• Describe Rust College’s youth leadership programs

• Consider dynamics related to Rust College’s programs

• Youth engagement for social justice• Community-campus partnerships • Social science & humanities foci in social justice

programming design, implementation & evaluation

• Q& A

Greenhouse of Hope• Genuinely embrace the gifts of youth and

young adults

• Cultivate young leaders who want to change the world

• How social science and humanities inform youth engagement programming

cc: Beyond Documentary - https://www.flickr.com/photos/47173165@N02

Rust CollegeConnecting Faith with Purpose for Social Justice

Rust College

O Historically Black, coeducational Liberal Arts College

founded in 1866 by the Methodist Episcopal Church

O Currently supported by the United Methodist Church

O Academically prepares students in the humanities,

social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences,

business, technology and education.

Rust College Health Explorers

Program: A Greenhouse for Youth Health Equity Leaders

Why a Health Explorers Program?

O 25% of U.S. college graduates are

from underrepresented ethnic

groups

O Health professions are the 3rd most

popular U.S. college majors; yet

historic lack of diversity in health

O Underrepresented students turn off

from health/science before

entering college

Growing our own

health

professionals in

Mississippi!

Why a Health Explorers Program in Holly Springs, Mississippi?

O Holly Springs Schools’ HS graduation rate is higher than Marshall County and the State.

O Designated HS focuses on health career exploration

O Holly Springs Career and Technical Center

School

Year

Marshall County

School District

Holly Springs

School District

Mississippi

2013-2014 77.3% 80.0% 74.5%

Why a Health Explorers Program in Holly Springs, Mississippi?

O Holly Springs (Marshall County) is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) w/increasing health disparities

O Underrepresented students from HPSAs often return to serve as health professionals in their own communities.

Holly Springs high school students have questions about health careers…

and Rust College is pointing them in the right direction to pursue

health careers.

Health Explorers Program Intents

O Increase HS students’ exposure

to health career options &

encourage HS graduation

O Excite underserved students

about health careers

O Create a “community of health

leaders” through learning &

mentoring from health

researchers, health

professionals and other students

Health Explorers Program Partners

Master of Public Health Program

College of Health Sciences

Holly Springs School District

Superintendent’s Office

Holly Springs Rotary Club

The Honorable Mayor of

Holly Springs

University of Memphis Byhalia Family Health Center

United Way of the MidSouth

Alliance Healthcare System & Foundation

Health Explorer Program Design O HEP Club

O Bi-monthly half-day sessions focused on specific health careers, health professional Q&As and learning activities

O24 hours of instructional contact from faculty & college near-peers (March -June 2015; Jan-April 2016)

O Offering Saturday club & in-school sessions for 2016-2017 Don’t just watch a Doc,

become a Doctor too!

Session Topics include: Leadership & Goal

Setting

Behavioral Science

Health Communication

Health Disparities &

Health Inequity

Epidemiology &

Surveillance

Medical Ethics

While our scholars represent some of the most underserved in

rural Mississippi…

80% of

participants’

parents did not

complete high

school (2014-2015 cohort)

Our scholars also represent those with the

greatest promise to succeed…

100% of

participants

want to pursue

health careers (2014-2015 cohort)

HEP is showing Holly Springs high school students there is a

world of health career possibilities waiting for them.

See for yourself ….

21

Rust College Health Explorers Program

O Capitalizing on 150 years of

educating students, Rust

College is investing in Holly

Springs’ high school

students.

O Working with partners, HEP

is “growing” future health

professionals right at home

in Mississippi.

Rust College Living Into Our

Future Youth Theology

Institute: A Greenhouse for Youth

Social Justice Leaders

Why a Youth Theology Institute?

O Youth have questions about faith

and contemporary challenges.

O Youth programs offer career

exploration often without

connection to a deeper call to

service.

O Youth want a “community” to ask

questions, be heard & understand

what faith means and looks like in

action.

Rust College’s Living Into Our Future Youth Theology Institute

O Supported by a 3-year grant from the

Lilly Endowment’s High School

Youth Theology Institutes initiative

O 1 of 4 HBCUs participating

O LIOF is an intentional “community” for

youth to explore faith & how it

can/does respond meaningfully to

the world’s problems through social

justice & mercy.

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the

teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who

heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

(Luke 2:46-47, NRSV)

Rust College’s LIOF Intents

O Conceive Theologically – “Who is God? “ “How do we know/discern God?” “Who am I?” and “Where is God?” in the world.

O Believe Vocationally – “What is our passion?” Explore career fields and align professions to our vocations/call.

O Strive Spiritually – “What are our goals and values?” Supports strategies to increase faith and discern places/spaces for leadership with God.

O Achieve Relationally – “Live your faith!” See how relationships with God are connected to relationships with & service to others.

Rust College’s LIOF: Inside the Greenhouse

O 10-day intensive onsite immersion experience

O Covenant Groups

O Health & Healing

O Creative Writing & Performing Arts

O Ministry and Public Service

O Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs

O Groups are where “God-talk” & questions happen, exploration is encouraged & leadership is cultivated

O Additional learn & lead

opportunities come

from:

O Bonding sessions

O Worship experiences

O Field trips

O Service learning

activities

O Recreational activities

Rust College’s LIOF: Inside the Greenhouse

O 2016 cohort

O 41 youth

O Recruited from the

Southeast United

States (i.e., Mississippi,

Tennessee, Georgia, and

Louisiana)

O 15-19 years of age

O Rising high school

juniors and seniors

O 2/3 female (67.5%); 1/3

male (32.5%)

O 100% African American

O 12% Liberian American

Rust College’s LIOF Greenhouse

of HopeO Issues LIOF examines:

O Racism & poverty;

O Violence and neglect;

O Police brutality against young people;

O Black Lives Matter movement & social activism;

O Invisibility and muting of youth of color by adults;

O Resisting stereotypes & (re)defining self;

O Conflicts of being smart and Black; &

O Hope in the midst of sadness & despair.

O LIOF connected these issues to theology, career interests & youth social action as a response

LIOF youth are leaders who came to learn and left prepared

to serve.

What they learned and left with included…

Faith Grows with Us

O “Coming into this class, I thought that you were going

to shove your own beliefs down my throat. Instead,

Mr. Redmond and Mr. Stovall let me choose what I

want to believe in with guidance. I was expecting that

this class was going to be boring because I was

losing faith in God. But because I’m in this class, I

am becoming a believer. I’m also questioning other

things I believe in. I am forever grateful for this class

and the professors.”

We Need a Community

O “I feel like I have grown as an individual. I’m open to others every since I’ve been here. I’ve opened up and made friends. I have grown to love these people in creative writing. This group was great and fun to be around. I have learned to just let loose and show your talents. Also, I learned not to be so quick to judge people by their looks or action because you always might not know their story. I have really enjoyed being here. I feel like I’m a changed young lady.”

Called to Work with God

O “My experience at Rust has been one I’ll always come

back to reflect on. I’ve learned lessons I can use

inside and outside the classroom…Essentially, being

at Rust has given me the opportunity to expand my

faith and understanding of the Lord as well as explore

the talents the Lord has blessed me with. I was able

to realize that God isn’t a wish-granting factor and you

must put in work for God to help you. In addition, the

people I have encountered have taught me talent has

no face, no specific location, or a gender. “

Rust College’s LIOF: Cultivating Youth Leaders for Today &

Tomorrow

O Building on the College’s rich history of cultivating leaders, Rust is doing it once again for youth leaders.

O LIOF connects faith, heart, head, community & service together for social change.

Rust CollegeA Greenhouse of Hope for 150 years

Greenhouse of Hope Panel

• Benefits of youth engagement in social justice

• Utility of community-campus partnerships for youth social justice programming

• Emerge young leaders who can change the world

cc: Beyond Documentary - https://www.flickr.com/photos/47173165@N02

Questions?

cc: ed_needs_a_bicycle - https://www.flickr.com/photos/91029339@N00

ReferencesWilliams, A., Williams, C., Turnage, I., Kanu, M., Inman, W., Okwumabua, O., Turner, L., Butler, D., Ward, D., Grandberry, C., Henderson, M., Paige, D., Powers, T. (2015). Increasing Public Health Diversity by Engaging High School Students: The Rust College Health Explorers Program. Holly Springs, MS: Rust College.

Baker, D. (Ed.). (2010). Greenhouses of Hope: Congregations Growing Young Leaders Who Will Change the World, Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Zayas, L., & McGuigan, D. (2006, Sep). Experiences Promoting Healthcare Career Interest among High-School Students from Underserved Communities. Journal of the National Medical Association , 98(9), 1523-1531.

Rashied-Henry, K., Fraser-White, M., Roberts, C., Wilson, T., & et. al. (2012). Engaging Minority High School Students as Health Disparities Interns: Findings and Policy Implications of a Summer Youth Pipeline Program. Journal of the National Medical Association, 104(Sep/Oct), 412-419.

Phillips, J., Harris, T., Ihedigbo, K., & Hawkins, J. (2012). Saturday Morning Science Programs: A Model to Increase Diversity in the Biosciences. Journal of the National Medical Association , 104(Jul/Aug), 377-383.

Rohrbaugh, M., & Corces, V. (2011, Dec). Opening Pathways for Underrepresented High School Students to Biomedical Research Careers: The Emory University RISE Program . Genetics, 189, 1135-1143.

Bumgarner, S., Means, B., & Ford, M. (2003). Building Bridges: From High School to Healthcare Professional. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 19(Jan/Feb), 18-22.

Lauver, L., Swan, B., West, M., Zukowsky, K., Powell, M., Frisby, T., et al. (2011). Kids into Health Careers: A Rural Initiative . The Journal of Rural Health , 27, 114-121.

Goodell, E., Visco, R., & Pollock, P. (1999). A Program to Enhance K-12 Science Education in Ten Rural New Work School Districts. Academic Medicine, 332-335.