Youth Violence Prevention Spoken Word Videos

There are a range of factors that contribute to the challenges that youth face and their ability to seek help, adjust, or rebound from adversity. Many of the mechanisms found within the Best Practices for Violence Prevention and Trauma Intervention can be seen in the everyday experiences that youth have, as well as in the strategies that they utilize to cope with the effects of community violence.

Free Write alumni created & performed their pieces on camera, each responding powerfully to one of five Best Practices for Violence Prevention and Trauma Intervention. With simple, yet powerful words, these youth openly explain what it is like to experience the effects of violence in their lives and encourage all of us to participate in making the change.

Click on each poem title below to watch videos and learn more about the best practices that inspired each poem.

	Youth Video	Inspired by Best Practice
	“Lessons in the Cycle” by Lukman Muhammed	1. Know the signs…Be supportive
	“Trust” by Angel Pantoja	2. A Sense of Trust
	“The World is Mine” by Grace Phan Jones	3. A Sense of Mastery
	“A Room With Three Walls and Some Curtains” by Mariela Villanueva	4. Feeling Safe
	“Make a Change” by Marshawn Knight	5. Changing the Message

Click here to download lyrics for the best practices videos

Best Practice #1: KNOW THE SIGNS… BE SUPPORTIVE

Lessons in the Cycle

He gains 30 lbs when he die
Just wanted to fit in, no role models, no one who’ll listen
It’s hard to see the lessons in the cycle of retaliation
Got to high school, next step that gang bangin’
a boy died right before our eyes, well yeah I cried but still I rise
A change of scenery might’ve encouraged me to make it out
We just wanted to fit in, cost him his life
Shoulda took a break that day, steered away from the fights

Ignored my fears to show out for peers
Trapped in a cell, made my body strong and my spirit as well
From fist fights to gun shots
5 went off and lil bro caught one,
Bullet FRYING his FLESH from a .25 caliber gun
God bless the fallen, he would’ve been in college
I changed my fate, my route,
A couple mentors helped to pull me out.
It took a village, yea no doubt.
Now I’m a leader from the North to down South.

- Lukman Muhammed

Identifying, helping, and supporting survivors of community violence…

Children living in areas where there are high levels of violence exposure may often feel that they are caught in a cycle of violence. Early exposure to an array of traumatic events such as shootings, gang activity, and death can lead to a range of social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems. It is important that individuals working with these youth develop the skills to identify the signs that youth are struggling with trauma and the best ways that they can provide support.

Best Practice #2: A SENSE OF TRUST

Trust

People doubted she could teach us poetry,
calling us underdogs at best,
but Ms. Arthur believed in us.
knew we could surpass any test.
We ignored her at first, drifting off in class.
But there was no evading her.
Short shot of black espresso, she woke us up, had us writing by the mass.
Concisely like she said, straight to the point like a haiku.
She ain't waste no time or syllables on nonsense.
Genuinely cared in the process, always listening to what we shared as if it were already a poem recited in the air.
We learned to tell our truth this way, unafraid to be ourselves.
Learned new words like “resilient”, “metaphor” and “simile”.
One day she told me,
“It's not the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog.”
Trust me, she would’ve spit truth in this minute, and in it you might’ve found yourself.

- Angel Pantoja

Developing safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and their parents, caregivers, and caring adults…

There are a range of traumatic experiences that may cause children to feel that they cannot rely on anyone for safety or support. The presence of positive and stable relationships is extremely important for all children. The care and support provided by caregivers, peers, or mentors can help with positive development, demonstrating prosocial behaviors, and resiliency.

Best Practice #3: A SENSE OF MASTERY

The World is Mine

When the war cry of depression
First threatened my unsuspecting heart
When the foot soldiers of anxiety
First set up camp in my mind--

My hands became the mouthpiece
Of voices that sought to ruin me.
“You are worthless,” I copied
On the page a hundred times,
Dutifully, like a child sentenced to the chalkboard,
“You are ugly,” I head them say.
But I had yet to tally the advantages
Of my troops, my weapons, my terrain.

I’d been training for this battle
Since the day when I was born. Songs song above my crib,
Lessons learned in grammar
Taught me to seek my voice, to hear its call and script.
Notes on comprehension, hours of tedious spelling
Led me to understand the story my life was telling.

“You don’t know anything about anything.” I found myself writing.
But at this, my skilled combatants
Restrained themselves no more:
On the front line, lullabies and songs,
Fairies and goblins, rhymes and legends,
An arsenal of adjectives,
Sonnets by the score.

These, the friends of my youth,
Struck down the lying voices of the enemy!
Declared my own words the strength and the law of the land.
My bold teachers, my wise warriors,
Proved the world is mine.

- Grace Phan Jones

Developing life skills in children and adolescents…

Early traumatic experiences may cause children and adolescents to develop low self-esteem, poor self-mastery, and the belief that they are unable to accomplish tasks or develop new skills. It is important to work with youth on building new skills and developing a sense of mastery. In addition to improving social skills, developing a sense of mastery and becoming involved in different activities can help to strengthen feelings of self-worth.

Best Practice #4: FEELING SAFE

A Room With Three Walls and Some Curtains

I’m in a place where
I can hear everything
and see people
I don't feel safe with.
This person has
problems controlling
herself
every time I see her
She’s violent and
arguing with people.

My room is the place
I stay
with my son when
my husband is at work.
my room is all I have
the bed isn't mine,
But it feels soft and
comfy to sleep
with my son and husband.

My son makes me
feel safe
just like I know he
feels safe
when I hold him
in my arms, asleep,
knowing that I can
provide in every way.

When he sleeps I
hear all the noises,
I take out my pencil
and paper and draw
anything that comes in my mind.
That's when my mind
gets lost in the lines,
the bright colors,
the dark colors,
or just in the pencil.

When my husband
comes home
with dirt on his face
looking tired and
stressed
but still gives me
a soft kiss and asks,
“how was your day?
how is the baby?”
I know that he will do
anything for us to be safe.

Being around people
with whom you
don't feel safe can
be hard
but finding your
safe space
can be right there
in the same place.

- Mariela Villanueva

Promoting a safe environment in the community…

In areas where there is frequent violence, it is important to work towards creating communities or places where individuals can feel safe. Identifying safe spaces, building supportive relationships, talking about ways to protect those living in the community, and working with law enforcement and local organizers can help to keep a community safe.

Best Practice #5: CHANGING THE MESSAGE

Make A Change

I can't eat and I can't sleep because the thoughts I got within
I had a friend just like a brother and his life got put to end
A lot of trauma in my life all I wanted was to win
You know I gotta make a change you know a change go' come within
It get harder everyday but soon them day will come to pass
I got abused I don't know why it's so hard for me to ask
Momma why you have to leave me with them snakes in the grass
I'm traumatized so now I'm cutting on my wrist with a glass
Everyday this stuff get hard I get the short end of the stick
I did a lot of stuff that I regret...the stuff I can't forget...
I'm traumatized, not only me but the people I was with
You say you walk up in my shoes, naw’ the shoes wouldn’t fit. But now I'm tryna make a
change, a lot of problems I'm going to fix

- Marshawn Knight

Changing rules and expectations in society (cultural norms) that support violence…

When children are living in areas with high community violence or are constantly bombarded by messages in the media that make violence seem normal, their perception of what is acceptable may vary and they may begin to demonstrate negative behavior. It is important to identify the current norms within a culture or community that may promote or perpetuate violent behaviors. Once identifying those norms, individuals can work with youth to identify rules and patterns of behavior that are more adaptive and acceptable. While working to address negative behaviors, service providers should remember that many of these youth have experienced multiple traumas and even if they are trying to change, they may be dealing with considerable amounts of distress, feelings of uncertainty, and discomfort. In situations such as this, acting out, emotional outbursts, or violent behaviors may occur and it is important that service providers and community members continue to provide support and understanding.

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Youth Violence Prevention Spoken Word Videos

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