New Toolkit for Educators on Cyberbullying, Digital Citizenship

Cyberbullying What Is It?

Common Sense Media has just released a new toolkit on cyberbullying available at no cost to K-12 educators.

The toolkit, part of a comprehensive digital literacy and citizenship initiative Commonsense Media launched last year, offers lesson plans on cyberbullying organized by grade level, as well as parent education materials.

As the materials point out, many educators find themselves thrown into the role of digital referee or security expert without training. Teachers are also called upon to counsel parents worried about their kids behavior and safety online.  | Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning.

Fiber Beats Other Remedies for Constipated Kids, Study Says

Many children in western countries suffer from chronic constipation, and when the going gets slow, fiber seems to beat all other non-drug remedies, new research from the Netherlands suggests.

A review of nine studies with 640 children up to age 18 with functional constipation, which has no known physical cause, found that fiber supplements were somewhat better than placebos at reducing kids' abdominal pain and improving frequency and consistency of stools. - Yahoo! News

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Number of U.S. Kids on ADHD Meds Keeps Rising

The use of stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Adderall in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is continuing to climb, although at a slower pace than in decades past, a new study finds.

The study's authors tracked U.S. prescription data from 1996 to 2008. They found the use of ADHD drugs was the highest among kids aged 6 to 12, rising slightly from 4.2 percent in 1996 to 5.1 percent 12 years later.

The most pronounced rise was in older children aged 13 to 18, however. - Yahoo! News

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Steady rise in use of ADHD meds in kids, teens

The use of prescription stimulants to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids has increased steadily over the last decade, according to a new study.

Between 1996 and 2008, the percentage of U.S. children taking stimulant ADHD medications rose from 2.4 to 3.5 percent — an increase of a half million kids.

The rise was due mainly to an increase in use of these medications among teens, the researchers said. - msnbc.com

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Students meet to prevent youth suicides

The Suicide Prevention Intervention Coalition for Youth, also known as SPICY held a conference for high school students this morning at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The students are participated in suicide prevention educational activities.

It was a year ago that a child took his own life at a Lake area school. Now his mother is speaking out hoping to prevent others from having to suffer through the same tragedy.

The statistics are startling. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those fifteen to 24 years old... And the second leading cause of death among college students. - KPLC 7 News

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Can a Digital Teaching Corps Help Close the Literacy Gap?

In “The Digital Teachers Corps: Closing America’s Literacy Gap” (pdf), Levine, executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, and Gee, professor of literacy studies at Arizona State University, propose recruiting 1,500 “digitally savvy young teachers, as well as a cadre of community literacy mentors including master teachers and librarians” for the first year and scaling up by 5,000 people annually. Participants would be dispatched into U.S. public schools in low-income communities.

The brief highlights the continued literacy crisis as well as the excruciating slow place by which school systems adopt new media tools for learning: “In the United States today, the majority of low-income children and a shocking one-third of their more affluent peers are behind when it comes to one key predictor of future achievement: fourth grade reading.” | Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning

Also read:

• New AP/MTV Survey Shows Need for Digital Ethics Curriculum - Fortunately, it’s Here

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ADHD meds could delay boys' puberty

A medication taken by millions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may delay puberty, at least temporarily, according to a new study in animals.

High doses of the drug methylphenidate — the active ingredient in Ritalin and other ADHD medications — reduced testes size and delayed descent of the testes in male monkeys younger than 5 years old, compared with monkeys not given the drug. The drug also reduced their testosterone levels at both low and high doses. - msnbc.com

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Hispanic kids are the largest group of children living in poverty

Hispanics now make up the largest group of children living in poverty, the first time in U.S. history that poor white kids have been outnumbered by poor children of another race or ethnicity, according to a new study.

In a report released Wednesday, the Pew Hispanic Center said that 6.1 million Hispanic children are poor, compared with 5 million non-Hispanic white children and 4.4 million black children. Pew said Hispanic poverty numbers have soared because of the impact of the recession on the growing number of Latinos. - The Washington Post

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Teen Pregnancy: A Wake-Up Call

Children are growing up faster. Experts say many young people are having unprotected sex as early as the eighth grade.
Omaha's teen pregnancy rates are above the national average. Douglas County has an epidemic of sexually transmitted disease. And parenting experts say teen moms and their children are more likely to drop out of school and live a lifetime in poverty. It’s a cycle of hopelessness more families are facing every year. KWatch Full Documentary on KETV Chronicle

Also read:

• Unprotected Sex in Teens

Here are some findings from the survey:

• On average, girls are losing their virginity at 15 years of age.
• 14 percent of teens who are having sex say they’re doing it at school.
• 52 percent of survey respondents say they do not use protection when having sex.
• One in three says she fears having a sexually transmitted disease.
• 24 percent of teens with STDs say they still have unprotected sex.
• One in five girls says she wants to be a teen mom.
• About 50 percent acknowledge that they’ve hit someone.
• One out of three teens has tried drugs.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Kids' Soup Cans Contain BPA Toxins

It doesn't matter how many smiling cartoon characters decorate a package. If food comes in a can, it's likely to contain the worrisome chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, according to a new study.

The study, which looked at six popular name-brand products, adds to accumulating evidence that the hormone-interfering chemical is widespread in our food supply and in the bodies of most Americans, including children.

Advocacy groups have successfully managed to get companies to remove BPA from baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and other products made for small children. The new findings suggest that food cans might need to be their next major target.  - BlackListedNews.com

Heavier kids experience more social problems

Children who are heavier than their peers at ages four and five are more likely to struggle in their relationships with other kids several years later, an Australian study suggests.

After following more than 3,300 children for about four years, researchers found that the heavy kids were up to 20 percent more likely at age eight or nine to be described by their parents as having social difficulties and by teachers as having emotional problems.  - Yahoo! News

Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D.: Helping Children Survive Divorce: Three Critical Factors

Recent research on the impact of divorce of children can be very instructive for those parents who are ready and willing to do what they can to help their children weather this crisis. Early research on the effects of divorce painted a very bleak picture. That research and its conclusions were limited, however, by the fact that the researchers relied on very small samples and neglected to compare children of divorce to children living within intact families.  Read more...

U.S. advisers urge FDA to address antipsychotics in kids

U.S. pediatric health advisers on Thursday urged drug regulators to continue studying weight gain and other side-effects of antipsychotic drugs as they are increasingly taken by children.

Significant numbers of U.S. children are receiving drugs to tame aggression, attention deficit disorder and other mental problems, even though there is little conclusive data to show exactly how the medications work or whether they damage kids' health.  - Yahoo! News

Nearly 1 in 4 young children now live in poverty in U.S.

The number of children living in poverty in the United States increased by 2.6 million since the recession began in 2007, bringing the total to an estimated 15.7 million poor children in 2010, according to researchers from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.

The researchers estimate that nearly 1 in 4 children under the age of 6 now live in poverty.  | The Raw Story

Related article:

• One In Four Young U.S. Children Living In Poverty, Study Finds

Million young adults get health coverage under law

At least one part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul has proven popular. With the economy sputtering, the number of young adults covered by health insurance grew by about a million as families flocked to take advantage of a new benefit in the law.

Two surveys released Wednesday — one by the government, another by Gallup — found significantly fewer young adults going without coverage even as the overall number of uninsured remained high. - Yahoo! News

Also read:

• Young Adults Make Gains in Health Insurance Coverage - NYTimes.com

Why Are Kids in Jail? Zero tolerance policies and racial bias are pushing many kids out of school and in to jail.

Bart Lubow: Zero tolerance policies and racial bias are pushing many kids out of school and in to jail.

Why Are Kids in Jail?

Dwayne McDuffie: Saying Goodbye to an Icon

Born Dwayne Glenn McDuffie in 1962 and raised in the city of Detroit, Michigan, his education began at the Roeper School. McDuffie chose the University of Michigan for his undergraduate studies from which he received a bachelor’s degree in English. Eventually, he went on to receive a Master’s in Physics. Continuing his schooling and creative interests, McDuffie studied film at New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts. He became a radio co-host while simultaneously moonlighting as a freelance writer for stand-up comedians. Some of his scripts made it to late-night television comedy programs.  :: East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention

Dwayne McDuffie on the realities of the Black writer in the comic book industry

Class Action Lawsuit filled, Allegedly Black Children were Knowingly Exposed to Lead Dust

The New York Times is reporting that a class-action lawsuit has been filed against a prominent Baltimore medical institute on charges that it knowingly exposed black children to lead poisoning as part of a study exploring the hazards of lead paint.
Allegedly, more than 100 children, who ranged in age from 12 months to 5 years old, were exposed to high levels of lead dust in their homes despite assurances from the Kennedy Krieger Institute that the houses were "lead safe."  The Root

Also read:

• Suit Over Lead Dust Names Kennedy Krieger Institute - NYTimes.com

INTELLIGENT SEEDZ LEAD PSA

Study: Child abuse on the rise as more Americans struggle during the recession

An increase in child abuse, mostly in infants, is linked with the recent recession in new research that raises fresh concerns about the impact of the nation's economic woes.

The results are in a study of 422 abused children from mostly lower-income families, known to face greater risks for being abused, and the research involved just 74 counties in four states.   - CBS News

Related articles:

• Child Abuse Rose During Recession, Research Says - ABC News
• Child Abuse Head Injuries Increased During Recession, Study Finds | Economy and Child Abuse | Abusive Head Trauma | LiveScience
• Side Effect of the Recession: An Increase in Child Abuse – TIME Healthland
• Child abuse climbs with recession: study | Reuters

Study: College graduates driving increase in bankruptcy filings

College graduates are the fastest-growing group of consumers who have filed for bankruptcy protection in the past five years, according to a new study by a financial nonprofit, which underscores the broad reach of the Great Recession.

The survey by the Institute for Financial Literacy, slated for release Tuesday, found that the percentage of debtors with a bachelor’s degree rose from 11.2 percent in 2006 to 13.6 percent in 2010. The group tracked similar but smaller increases in consumers with two-year associate and graduate degrees. Meanwhile, the percentage of debtors with a high school diploma or who did not finish college declined.  - The Washington Post

Also read:

• More college grads file for bankruptcy - Sep. 13, 2011
• More College Graduates Filing For Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy Filings Increase Among College Grads, Married People - Bankruptcy Beat - WSJ

World's annual child mortality rate falling: U.N

The annual number of children who die before they reach age five is shrinking, falling to 7.6 million global deaths in 2010 from more than 12 million in 1990, UNICEF and the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

Overall, 12,000 fewer children under age 5 die each day than a decade ago, the groups said in their annual report on child mortality.

Even in sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of child mortality is greatest, the rate of improvement has more than doubled in the past decade, a sign that even the poorest regions can make progress, said Anthony Lake, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF.  - Yahoo! News

Teen restrictions fail to curb fatal crashes

State laws that place restrictions on teenage drivers and require them to "graduate" from an intermediate license to a full license do seem to prevent fatal crashes involving teens, but only among the youngest drivers.

A new analysis of national crash data published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that between 1986 and 2007, the rate of fatal accidents involving 16-year-old drivers was 26% lower in states that prohibited teens from driving at night and carrying certain passengers, compared to states with neither restriction.  - CNN.com

Parents Warned Against New Vaccination Guidelines

The state of California has just passed bill AB499, which will permit minor children as young as 12 years old to be vaccinated with sexually transmitted disease vaccines like Gardasil without parental knowledge or parental consent. This means that if you  live in California, school or medical personnel would be allowed to vaccinate your child against an STD without your ever knowing it.

At issue, of course, is whether 12-year-olds are mature enough to fully analyze the benefits versus risks of vaccination...  Read more...

Racial Bias Seen in Study of Lead Dust and Children

A class-action lawsuit was filed Thursday against a prominent Baltimore medical institute, accusing it of knowingly exposing black children as young as a year old to lead poisoning in the 1990s as part of a study exploring the hazards of lead paint.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs say that more than 100 children were endangered by high levels of lead dust in their homes despite assurances from the Kennedy Krieger Institute that the houses were “lead safe.”  - NYTimes.com

High Marks for Home Schooling, a Small Study Finds

In some cases, home schooling may give kids a leg up on their public-school peers, finds a small, new study published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science.

As long as it's structured and follows a set curriculum, home schooling may actually lead to better scores on tests of math and reading, compared with public schooling, say the researchers from Concordia University and Mount Allison University in Canada.  – TIME Healthland

Youth Pulse Radio Interview Adrian Kali Turner, Rapper/Activist Arian Poetess Muhammad, and youth activist Mary-pat Hector

Youth actor Adrian Kali Turner, Rapper/Activist Arian Poetess Muhammad, and youth activist Mary-pat Hector - Stops by to chat with Youth Pulse Saturday, September 17th from 11am - 1pm EST.  Listen HERE >>>>>>>

Adrian Kali Turner credits as follows Nickelodeon, Chuck, Lincoln Heights, iCARLY, Yo Gabba Gabba and Bad Teachers, to name a few...

Adrian Kali Turner is a young actor, singer, dancer, writer and entrepreneur. He was born in 1997 in Takoma Park, Md. Adrian currently lives in Los Angeles, Ca, and attends Connections Academy.

Adrian started acting at the tender age of 4, when he landed the lead role in a pre-school play. In July 2006, Adrian attended the Actors, Models and Talent Competition in Orlando, Florida, where he earned top awards for Monologue and Commercial competitions. Adrian shone among the contestants and earned recognition as finalist for the Best Overall Child Actor award.

Adrian is a current member of both the SAG and AFTRA actor unions. His list of credits include: iCarly, Yo Gabba Gabba, Chuck, Lincoln Heights, Nickelodeon Kid's ChoiceAwards, Numb3rs, Flash Forward, and Disney's 3 Minute Game Show. In addition, Adrian had a pivotal role in the Hollywood/Bollywood blockbuster, My Name is Khan. Adrian is an avid comic book reader. He realized his dream acting-job of portraying a comic book character when he was cast as Duane in the hit AMC zombie-drama, The Walking Dead. – IMDbPro

Arian Poetess Muhammad form MIA - Music is Alive Campaign.  Arian Nicole is a Producer, Vocalist, Songwriter, Composer, Musician, Poetess and Emcee from Flint, Michigan. Arian specializes in hip-hop soul and break beat. She's been involved in digital production for a little over 5 years and is the founder of C.H.A.N.G.E, a hip-hop/self esteem workshop for female youth. 

She is also founder of The MIA Music is Alive Campaign.  A movement of cultural responsibility and artist accountability. The MIA campaign not only believes that we as artists are accountable for the message we send but that we collectively have the power to create change by uniting and using our gifts to educate, encourage, and inspire. The MIA Music Is Alive Campaign was established to help unite Youth, Artists, Educators, and Activists in a campaign to educate and spread awareness of the power of art and promote positive images for cultural advancement. The MIA Music Is Alive Campaign was founded on the 9^thissue of The Millions More Movement to assist in the establishment of a new cultural paradigm for a new and better reality.

For workshops or presentations please send inquiries to: musicofamovement@yahoo.com

visit website: miacampaign.wordpress.org

MIA on Facebook

Mary-Pat Hector, To say that she is effervescent, articulate, innovative, outgoing and determined may be an understatement because Mary-Pat is all these attributes and so much more. At twelve years old, Mary-Pat is reaching for the stars and destined to land in the midst. And, if the next generation of leaders is to be likened to those with the tenacity of Mary-Pat, then it is inevitable that the world will be in good hands. Mary-Pat Hector attends Solid Foundation Private School and when she’s not in class, she is an activist, youth advocate, speaker, play-write, actress, and President of Youth In Action. As Founder and National President she is responsible for creating a new project once every three months. She is passionate about advocating for nonviolence and has served as the Founder of “Shake off the Violence” Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth. Mary-Pat is uniquely qualified to carry out her mission to be the voice of a new generation of empowered young leaders. She has reached youth across all ages and is known for her expertise in developing culturally relevant and youth-friendly educational strategies. Through her work, Mary-Pat serves as a bridge between her generation and those who care about, educate, mentor, and advocate for them. Mary-Pat also served as the National Youth Spokes Person for The Peace Keepers.

Mary-Pat can also be credited with the title of playwright and writer, with her first stage play being entitled, “Easy Street Ain’t So Easy.” The play explores the topic of child cruelty is self produced by Mary-Pat. According to Mary-Pat, the production of this work enables her to “be a voice” for other children. Mary-Pat is the youngest blogger for Russell Simmons Global Grind. The mature Mary-Pat comments, “Many people don’t realize that youth have problems also, I will be their voice when they feel afraid to speak.”

When time permits, Mary-Pat is a contributing writer for My Magazine, a publication for girls.

She believes that you are never too young to change the world and "why wait to be great". Upon completing high school and undergraduate studies, Mary-Pat desires to obtain her Master’s degree in Theater from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and ultimately establish her own performing arts school. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, youth activism, community service, dancing, and making others laugh.

MarypathectorPR@gmail.com

 
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Reading is Fundamental, unless you attend American Schools, SAT reading scores fall to lowest level on record

AT reading scores for the high school class of 2011 were the lowest on record, and combined reading and math scores fell to their lowest point since 1995.

The College Board, which released the scores Wednesday, said the results reflect the record size and diversity of the pool of test-takers. As more students aim for college and take the exam, it tends to drag down average scores.   - msnbc.com

Related articles:

• Education Week: SAT Scores Fall as Number of Test-Takers Rises

“Too Important to Fail” Tavis Smiley Reports

“Too Important to Fail” examines one of the most disturbing aspects of the education crisis facing America today — the increased dropout rate among teenagers, specifically among Black teenage males. In the fifth installment of Tavis Smiley Reports, Tavis investigates the root causes of this calamity, as well as what can be done and is being done to reverse this. Behind every catch phrase and every statistic is a young person whose future will be lost if something is not done immediately to change this reality.

In many states, fewer than 50% of young Black males graduate from high school. Low graduation rates combined with high rates of placement in special education classes and disproportionate use of suspension and expulsion add up to a crisis point for young Black males on the brink of adulthood.  | Tavis Smiley

Read more

• More Information | Tavis Smiley | PBS

Dropping Out, Imprisoned or Killed: Disparities in Outcomes Faced by Young African American Men

In the United States, racial and ethnic disparities exist across an array of domains. That such disparities exist should surprise no one. Nor should the fact that such disparities diminish the life chances of those affected. A vast body of literature documents such disparities and shows that they have developed and persisted over time in the context of historical and structural racism in ways that may influence policies, practices and programs.

Boys and men of color—in particular, young African American men—are particularly vulnerable to such disparities. For example, they tend to have lower high school graduation rates, a greater likelihood of going to prison and higher mortality rates from homicide.   | Tavis Smiley

A State of Dire Crisis

With resolve, the nation can apply best practices and improve their futures and that of their families, communities and the entire nation. However, doing so requires first that government systems and our communities place a priority on these children and young adults and pursue an equity agenda that allows all, including boys and men of color, to thrive and reach their full potential.   | Tavis Smiley

The Pathway to Success: From Cradle to Career

The challenges facing Black men are more diverse and no less complex than those facing our highest-need communities; therefore, government, at all levels, can and must play a leading role in providing comprehensive solutions and doing so at scale. If for no other reason, this is true because education, while a partial solution, has always provided the clearest path out of poverty and to opportunity, self sufficiency and empowerment (even when the playing field was (is) not level). Therefore, the success of any plan to win the war for Black men and boys rests on ensuring each of us has access to quality education and training from the cradle through college and career.  | Tavis Smiley

Encouraging Future Innovation: Youth Entrepreneurship Education

Entrepreneurship is an employment strategy that can lead to economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. Self-employment provides people with disabilities and their families with the potential to create and manage businesses in which they function as the employer or boss, rather than merely being an employee. Oftentimes, people with disabilities are eligible and receive supplemental supports (technical and financial) which can serve as a safety net that may decrease the risk involved with pursuing self-employment opportunities.

Nearly 80 percent of would-be entrepreneurs in the United States are between the ages of 18 and 34! A 2005 poll from Junior Achievement (JA) found that 68.6 percent of the teenagers interviewed wanted to become entrepreneurs, even though they knew that it would not be an easy path. In spite of this overwhelming interest, however, youth rarely receive any information about entrepreneurship as a career option.

Entrepreneurship education offers a solution. It seeks to prepare people, particularly youth, to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers by immersing them in real life learning experiences where they can take risks, manage the results, and learn from the outcomes.  U.S. Department of Labor

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Obama's American Jobs Act Would Help Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs

Now, imagine if aspiring entrepreneurs — individuals whose main priority is to hire themselves, build revenues and hire others to grow — had access to this sort of guaranteed startup capital. Well, under the American Jobs Act, they will.

According to Obama’s plan, all 50 states would be able to establish Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) programs, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to utilize unemployment insurance money to fund their businesses for up to 26 weeks —providing roughly $10,000 to $13,000 in assistance, or what I would refer to as “seed funding.” Not a bad deal when you consider that the cost of most startups, especially most service-based businesses and tech ventures, have relatively low startup and operating costs. In essence, the president’s plan will create a guaranteed source of startup capital for businesses without any of the traditional credit and collateral requirements as barriers — or the need to give away equity to investors. Someone pinch me. | TIME.com

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PARENT ALERT!!! SpongeBob study: Do fast-paced cartoons impair kids' thinking?

Kids who watched just nine minutes of the fast-paced children's cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants" did worse afterward at tasks requiring focus and self-control than did kids who watched a slow-paced cartoon and kids who entertained themselves by coloring.

The study was small, and scientists weren't sure how long the brain-drain effect persists. But the research highlights the importance not just of how much TV a child watches, but of what kind, said Dimitri Christakis of the Seattle Children's Research Institute at the University of Washington. - CSMonitor.com

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A New Source of Support and Inspiration for Young Entrepreneurs

How can the U.S. government encourage entrepreneurship among the young?

That was the question that various government entities along with Small Business Administration and partner organizations posed to a veritable who's who of young entrepreneurs in front of a packed audience at the General Assembly Incubator in New York and online yesterday evening. Although small businesses overall could likely use a hand up from Uncle Sam, the stated purpose of the event was to get feedback and answer questions of young entrepreneurs to better help the Administration support small business growth -- specifically among young entrepreneurs. | Entrepreneur.com

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Youth Pulse Radio Topic: The Importance & Value of Black Media & How to become an Entrepreneur

Listen to Youth Pulse discussion on The Importance & Value of Black Media and How to Become an Entrepreneur!

The guest include:

Brother Jesse Muhammad is an award winning journalist and blogger.  He is also a radio commentator and nationally known Motivational Speaker.  He serves as a Staff Writer for The Final Call Newspaper since 2005. The Final Call is the most widely circulated and only remaining independent national Black weekly in the United States. You can read many of my stories and interviews at:www.finalcall.com.

Ashahed Muhammad is a journalist, author and veteran organizer, Ashahed is one of the most influential ideologues and strategists within today’s contemporary and progressive activist scene. He is the Executive Director of the Truth Establishment Institute and Assistant Editor of the influential weekly publication The Final Call.

We also talk with Agaytha B. Corbin, Founder and President/CEO of the CDCRC and Ambrose Mosses III on  Entrepreneurship. 

The Community Development Corporation Resource Consortium.  The CDCRC is

 a non-profit 501 c 3 organization created to provide community-based education, economic development opportunities and capacity-building services to grassroots non-profits, faith-based and community development organizations as well as small businesses and entrepreneurial enterprises.community-based vehicle providing

The CDCRC was created to provide direct services through education, economic development opportunities and capacity-building services to grassroots non-profits, faith-based and community development organizations, and small businesses. We are an innovative organization that acts as a community organizer or liaison by providing mixed services to other agencies.

Moses Law’s purpose and mission is to promote and secure legal, social, and economic justice for all. At the heart of our mission is a deep-rooted commitment to helping empower individuals and communities to influence and to control their own destinies.

You can alos listen at: Youth Pulse

Almost Half of Black Youth Report Pressure to Have Sex

Black youth report considerable pressure to have sex, according to a new survey of 1,500 Black youth ages 13-21 released by ESSENCE Magazine and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Of those who have had sex, 47% of those 13-21 (including 21% of those 13-15) say they have been pressured to go further sexually than they wanted to. The groundbreaking results are featured in the October issue of ESSENCE magazine, on newsstands September 12th. In the article, Our Teens' Secret Sex Lives, ESSENCE senior writer Jeannine Amber interviewed dozens of kids to uncover the truth about teens and sex. PRNewswire

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American teens facing high unemployment nationwide

Not enough young people can find work in America. In fact, the end of this season marks the worst summer on record for U.S. teenagers seeking work.


Only a quarter of nearly 17 million Americans between 16 and 19 years of age held jobs this summer, the least since World War II. What that translates to -- is a slower start to gaining job experience and potential for more than 12 million young people to earn lower saleries throughout an entire lifetime. Read more...

Press TV's Rhonda Pence reports from Washington.

Mobile Revolutions » Social Networks and Youth in Central America

Social Networks have moved from being a buzzword, to an essential element of global pop culture. Social Networks are online platforms that provide users with spaces to upload and share information with others on the network. They can be accessed by a series of devices, such as computers, gaming systems, cell phones, and other mobile devices. One key aspect of Social Networks is that the value of the site is amplified as users join and share more information. This phenomenon is explained by Metcalf’s Law, formulated by Bob Metcalf, founder of 3Com and inventor of Ethernet technology. Metcalf’s Law calculates that, “The value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of users of the system (n²).” This pooling of information has a powerful effect, allowing users to exchange information rapidly, communicating with thousands of people every day.

In Social Networks the average user has access to social publishing software, where they can share their likes, interests, and share news with other friends. A Social Network is also a site for activist discourse, as functions such as message boards and groups allow users to collaborate in new ways. What is revolutionary about this new form of communication is that each user acts as a newscast to their friends and the wider audience of the Internet. When applied to mobile social networks, this gives youth the power to broadcast their concerns right from the palm of their hands. Many Social Network websites have added mobile capabilities to help make their sites more accessible.  Read more...

DC Comics reboots 'Static Shock,' putting African American teen hero in Harlem

This week DC Comics' "Static Shock" #1 hit stands this week - introducing African American teen turned electromagnetism-wielding superhero Virgil Hawkins into the same universe as Superman, Wonder Woman and The Flash.

Static - created by the now defunct Milestone Comics in 1993 and turned into a Saturday morning cartoon a few years later - was originally based in the fictional Midwestern city of Dakota.

But after acquiring the character a few years ago, DC Comics decided to reboot the hero with a more realistic setting.  Read more...

Batman, Static Shock, crossover, with Batman Beyond, future shock, part 1

UK officials may take 4 obese kids into custody

Scottish officials say they may take four heavy children away from their parents after warnings to help their kids trim down have apparently failed.

The children are aged one to 11. The parents are obese and have three older children who are also heavy. For the past two years, the family has lived in government housing and had their eating habits scrutinized.  The Associated Press

Related articles

• Obese children to be put up for adoption Telegraph.co.uk
  
• Children taken from parents for being fat: Outrage as social workers break up ... Daily Mail
  
• Parents face losing their 'fat' children for failing to help them lose weight

Racial Profiling in Education: Why Put Up With It?

Fifty-seven years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the standard of "separate but equal" in our education system was one that is fundamentally unequal -- and, moreover, is un-American, unconstitutional and immoral.

In the nearly 60 years since the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, we have seen incredible progress. But we have also witnessed a steady decline in the performance and self-esteem of our children as they grapple with a cumbersome and often myopic educational system.  Read more...

Obama's smog flip-flop may leave black kids breathless

The one in six African-American kids who suffer from asthma got bad news today. President Obama has withdrawn rules that would have cut back on ground-level ozone -- a precursor to smog. This means a delay in cleaning up the air these kids sometimes struggle to breathe.

I know the president is in a tough spot. The economy is a mess, a very tough election season is shaping up, and some of his most vocal opponents are convinced they can score political points by rolling back pollution limits.

But giving polluters a break carries real costs, for real people. About nine million children in the U.S. suffer from asthma, and attacks can be triggered by polluted air. Setting limits on how much air pollution American families have to live with is a sensible way of balancing the need to breathe with the need to make a profit.  Read more....