Baby Care Traditions in Hispanic Culture

I ran across this article and thought it might be interesting for women working with hispanic girls.


Baby care traditions in Hispanic culture

Unequal Childhoods

Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life

Class does make a difference in the lives and futures of American children. Drawing on in-depth observations of black and white middle-class, working-class, and poor families, Unequal Childhoods explores this fact, offering a picture of childhood today. Here are the frenetic families managing their children's hectic schedules of "leisure" activities; and here are families with plenty of time but little economic security. Lareau shows how middle-class parents, whether black or white, engage in a process of "concerted cultivation" designed to draw out children's talents and skills, while working-class and poor families rely on "the accomplishment of natural growth," in which a child's development unfolds spontaneously--as long as basic comfort, food, and shelter are provided. Each of these approaches to childrearing brings its own benefits and its own drawbacks. In identifying and analyzing differences between the two, Lareau demonstrates the power, and limits, of social class in shaping the lives of America's children. 

The first edition of Unequal Childhoods was an instant classic, portraying in riveting detail the unexpected ways in which social class influences parenting in white and African-American families. A decade later, Annette Lareau has revisited the same families and interviewed the original subjects to examine the impact of social class in the transition to adulthood.

Code of the Street

Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City

Inner-city black America is often stereotyped as a place of random violence; in fact, violence in the inner city is regulated through an informal but well-known code of the street. How you dress, talk, and behave can have life-or-death consequences, with young people particularly at risk. The most powerful force counteracting this code and its reign of terror is the strong, loving, decent family, and we meet many heroic figures in the course of this narrative. Unfortunately, the culture of the street thrives and often defeats decency because it controls public spaces, so that individuals with higher, better aspirations are often entangled in the code and its self-destructive behaviors. Writing in the tradition of Jane Jacobs and William Julius Wilson, the author delineates the true workings of city streets. His most interesting characters are not the bullies and dealers, but the decent folks, young and old, who through entrepreneurship and creative self-help strategies are forging a viable alternative, an escape from the code of the street. Winner of the Komarovsky Book Award, this incisive book examines the code as a response to the lack of jobs that pay a living wage, to the stigma of race, to rampant drug use, to alienation and lack of hope. An individual's safety and sense of worth are determined by the respect he commands in public—a deference frequently based on an implied threat of violence. Unfortunately, even those with higher aspirations can often become entangled in the code's self-destructive behaviors.

Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children

Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children

Society tells us that sex is an act of self-expression, a personal choice for physical pleasure that can be summed up in the ubiquitous phrase: “hooking up.” Millions of American teenagers and young adults are finding that the psychological baggage of such behavior is having a real and lasting impact on their lives. They are discovering that “hooking up” is the easy part, but “unhooking” from the bonds of a sexual relationship can have serious consequences.

A practical look into new scientific research showing how sexual activity causes the release of brain chemicals which then result in emotional bonding and a powerful desire to repeat the activity. This book will help parents and singles understand that “safe sex” isn't safe at all; that even if they are protected against STD's and pregnancy, they are still hurting themselves and their partner.

Shepherding Women in Pain

The next few posts are going to be about great books I've been recommended... I haven't read them yet but other YoungLives friends have said they're excellent!

Shepherding Women in Pain

Infertility, divorce, domestic violence, eating disorders...all have become part of a day's work for women and men in ministry to women.  Yet, most are not prepared for this aspect of ministering to women in real pain over real issues.  

Designed to give leaders and care givers greater understanding, insights for shepherding, and referral resources, Shepherding Women in Pain is a compilation from contributors who have expertise and experience with women on the given issue.  For examples Stacey Womack, founder and Executive Director of Abuse Recovery Ministry & Services wrote the chapter on domestic violence and Kimberley Davidson, founder of Olive Branch Outreach, authored the chapter discussing eating disorders. 

The reader will be provided concise, practical, and grace-infused information designed to help women deal constructively with the trauma of their life experiences.  This book will serve as a key resource – read and re-read often – to those who serve women in pain.

Giving Letter

Here is the letter I sent to current and potential donors at the beginning of December for year-end gifts. December is the strongest giving month to areas! Remember that whenever you send letters out, following up with a phone call is key! 


How I did it:
I used a girl's story, picture and then had a note along with the pledge card at the bottom that they could tear off. I personalized each letter with the person's name. Feel free to use this letter to create your own for support, camp scholarships, year-end giving, etc... A letter like this can be made in Word -- you don't need expensive graphic design software. If this isn't your skill set find someone to help you (a mentor, committee person, computer savvy friend!). A full-size version of the file can be viewed here. 

Sample Info Sheet for Volunteers

In our area we are always having people ask how can they get involved. A good problem to have! We give them the YoungLives adult brochure and have created this document below to give them some more area specific information. They want details on how to plan to provide a meal, or how long will they need to be there for childcare. We also sent it out to our overall Young Life committee so they know our needs and can help connect us to people. View a larger version here.