Context, Content, and Connections

The A.B.L.E. program recently completed its school year program. Over the course of the school year we served a wide-range of students and families. Most importantly, we laid the foundation for an approach to learning that can be defined by the three C's: Context, Content, and Connections.

In all of our program components one of our goals was to ensure that students were aware of the Context in which the learning experience was taking place. Thus, in a city where 'race' is never far from folks minds, it mattered that we created an exhibition called "Black, Brown, and White in the 'Chocolate City: Being an Adolescent in the Nation's Capitol" as a way to examine the social, political, cultural, and economic transformations that are taking place in Washington, D.C. Similarly, we wanted program participants to leave each day with some new Content that they may not have otherwise been exposed to had they elected to spend their time elsewhere. Our ABLE Visions program is a good example of the importance of providing adolescents with new and engaging content. Each Friday for 36 weeks we introduced students to films that they would have otherwise not seen. In the process they got a glimpse of how the world view adolescents and how adolescents view the world. Students often spoke about the impact that the stories and images in the films had on their thinking. Most importantly, however, we aim to help students make a Connection. Over the course of the school year one thing was made plain on a daily basis: the only thing predictable about adolescents is that they are unpredictable. Consequently, the ABLE program was at its best when students could see a Connection between our program and their life. It happen more times than some participants were willing to admit but, it happen enough that we knew we were achieving our goal.

Now as the summer awaits, the ABLE program is preparing to sustain the relationship with students by pushing them beyond the boundaries of their experiences each day from June 29-August 7. If we are successful, all of our program participants this summer will be in a stronger position to have maximum opportunity for success when school begins. We have learned that the best way to have success is to plan for it. In this case, this means keeping the context, content, and connections in mind in everything we plan to do with adolescents.

The 'Boyle-ing" Point

What can you tell about a person by the way they look? This was the questions that A.B.L.E. started with as we waded into the global debate about the look, feel, and voice of Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle. Why did the crowd initially laugh when she appeared on the stage? Should Ms. Boyle have a makeover? Should people in the words of Washington Post style writer, Robin Givhan, strive to be "the best version of yourself". What do adolescents hear in the conversations about Susan Boyle?

I think that Susan Boyle should just get a makeover. Why, because she really isn't that popular and the one thing that all up-and coming musical star needs is a cool fashion statement. Society puts a lot of emphasis on a women's looks. Probably because the people we call "society" are probably a bunch of guy who work in cubicles and are bored. So they make calculations and statments about women. Yes "we" treat people by the way they look and especially if they are what I call "Ugly". I think I myself and my followers do this because it makes me feel better about myself. I get a kick out of it and it secures me from boredom.

A. J.


Well after watching Susan Boyle, you learn a lot by the way people dress. You learn that you should not judge a person by their looks or how they dress. You never know what people hold on the inside. Susan looked like a normal British woman, but really she was a woman with an extraordinary voice, and a kind heart.

Anonymous

People were laughing because of how she looked. She looked like she could not sing, and a?little ditzy. She also wasn't the most attractive woman. The audience changed their reaction because she had a great voice. I don't think Susan should have a makeover. She should dress how she wants to. Its her style, it's her. Plus we are going to be so blown away by her voice when she starts singing we wont even care what she has on, just like on British Idol.

Anonymous

I don't know why society puts so much importance on a woman's looks. I guess because woman are SUPPOSE to always look good. That's just the image that people, society, and the media say you should look.

If the person is friendly, and we have a connection, we spark a conversation, then ok, im not just gonna talk to them, or not talk to them because their not attractive to me. You know what they say?"One man trash, Is another man treasure.

Anonymous

Susan Boyle shouldn't have a makeover because it will destroy the whole
purpose her fans love and admire her. Society places appearances first for
women because they believe women should always have beauty and sex appeal.
Thats just the way we think. In general i think we as a society treat better
looking people better than people we define as ugly because thats the way
people think. Movie Stars are "beautiful" Models Actors, Talk Show Hosts,
Rich People all look beautiful in our society because of the message they
send to people and the impression they give. When people look "ugly" they
give off the impression that they are a loser, or they have no ambition,
they don't know what they are what they are doing. That is frowned upon in
our society.**

ZZ

At times I can tell people's personality through Their clothes because if they wear bulky clothes, that means that they don't have that much self esteem. If they wear clothes that show off their skin, that means that they have good self esteem. I don't think she should get one if she doesn't want it. I think as long as she can sing, that she doesn't need a makeover. I don't think that people should judge other people by their looks . I think they should judge them by their personality.

K.S.


I think the reason why they laughed at Susan Boyle because of the way she dress and maybe she looked old. After they heard her sing i think they felt bad because they were talking about her and judging her by her appearance.
i do not think Susan Boyle needs a makeover, but she could use some tips on her hair and what she's wearing. So if she wanted to become a professional singer then she should think about her appearance and her fans.

D.P.

The Hosea Project Conversation

"Our children are suffering for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)

Each week a group of the young men in the A.B.L.E. Program sit down together for an hour to talk about issues that are impacting their daily lives. Over the course of the school year we have discussed what life is like for young men living in Washington, DC., We discuss students' expecations about school, friendship, and most recently the biggest challenges they are facing and their views on 'Zero Tolerance' policies in schools. Below are two brief reflections about the on-going Hosea Project conversation:

My biggest upcoming challenge is going to be getting ready for the SAT and getting ready to prepare for colleges. Studying for the SAT is going to be a major challenge in my near future because it will determine which colleges I will even have a chance at getting into depending on what I get on it. I am applying to very prestigious colleges so it I will need toe try my best in the upcoming year because it is probably the of the most important years of my high school career. I do believe that boys and girls each respond to conflicts differently because everyone is there own person so they cannot all be the exact same. This in essence says that not even people within there own gender have the same reactions since no one is the same. The "zero tolerance" rules do not work because they are not enforced and I also believe there focus on what they should be enforced on is wrong. I believe that there should be no "zero tolerance" because they7 kids should be punished but while learning what mistake they made so they will not make it again. This alternative is much better because kids may learn their mistakes and they won't forfeit there education that school. These were my answers during our enlightening conversation that took place.

J.C.


The discussion that I had was a great one. We discussed the things that are the biggest challenges in you school right now and I said that the hardest thing was peer presure. Then we talked about how our schools have no tollerance for certian things such as; fighting, drugs, and cursing. When I spoke I said that my school is very strict I also said that my school has no tolerance for anything such as; fighting, cursing, writing on the walls, and drugs. Then we talked about mistakes we have made and things we wish that we could take back and I said that when I was in my last semester in middle school and I didn't do good and I was lazy and I didn't get accepted to the school that I wanted to and i couldn't go there.

R. Short

Growing Pains: A No-Win Situation

My biggest problem in school is that I get physically hurt every day. Being smart is a no-win situation. I feel as though as there is no point in learning if I have to take all this mess getting teased every day. Another problem is when th teacher asks who did what,the girls start acting like they didn't do anything,while the boys start laughing because they make jokes about it, being stupid. Another no-win situation when they blame it on you. If everybody looks at you. Once they look at you, it’s a losing vote when schools have zero tolerance you feel like you are restricted and you want to literally fight back. You question your power,like it’s a weak paper plate. My mom always says I have no power. I feel more and more rebellious,I’m definetely not going to accept having no power.

A. Langston Saunders

Beauty Despite Suffering-Tenesah Hart

the woman i love is very special to me because she gives me food and wakes me up in the morning she is my stepmother. she also is special because she has suffered so much and still looks beautiful. The time that she was most beautiful was the time i saw her when she was getting married to my father in a laced white dress.

She Gives Me What I Need to Succeed-Naeem Wynn

MY MOTHER IS THE WOMEN I LOVE THE MOST.SHE GIVES ME WHAT I NEED TO SUCCED.I HATE TO DISAPOINT HER. SHE BELIEVES IN ME WHEN NOBODY ELSE WILL.THIS MOURNING WHEN I WAS OUT THE HOUSE MY MOTHER HAD HER COAT ON AND WAS READY FOR WORK AND SHE HAD A SPECIAL GLOW ABOUT HER, LIKE WHEN THE MOURNING SUNLIGHT BEAMS THROUGH THE WINDOW. SHE SHOWS SHE LOVES ME ALL THE TIMES BUT, THE ONE TIME I REMEMBER MOST THE IS WHEN SHE TOLD ME NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, OR SAY I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART.

We Work Hand and Hand: James Steward

My grandmother is the woman that I love because, she takes care of me and she nurses me. She also helps me with my homework. My grandmother also helps me with my problems just as a mother should. I take care of her when she is down just to show her my appreciation to all of her hard work and consideration to others. She is only nervous to herself and usually can handle things by herself when she needs her space. When I need help with cleaning my room, she’ll help me with that too. Sometimes, when she is distraught, I help her clean her own room. We work hand and hand together. I would have never met her if I had never been burned. Those were the reasons of my love for my grandmother.