[0:00] Welcome to the ONS podcast with your [0:03] host Lana Jacobson. [0:06] >> Hello community. It is the ONS podcast [0:08] brought to you by our partners at Face [0:10] to Face Academy. For those who are [0:11] tuning in for the first time, ONS stands [0:14] for Office of Neighborhood Safety. I'm [0:15] your host Lenia Jacobson and I'm part of [0:17] the ONS team. This podcast was created [0:20] for departments like ours and community [0:22] organizations to connect you to [0:24] alternative public safety measures, [0:26] programs, and your local growth and [0:28] healing opportunities. [0:30] First, I will say that it is hot in St. [0:33] Paul. I don't know when this episode is [0:35] going to air. Probably early fall, late [0:38] summer, but it is hot. [0:41] >> It has been humid. We are like maybe [0:43] sitting at like a 72 degrees today. So, [0:46] it's a little bit cooler today, but we [0:48] are coming off the cuffs of like the '9s [0:52] and the humidity here in St. Paul. So, [0:56] um the hair is out. I have been rocking [0:59] a ponytail, [1:02] a ponytail, a bun, a baseball cap, and [1:04] an afro for the last two weeks. Sorry, [1:07] not sorry, but truly sorry. Today, [1:10] [clears throat] we welcome World Youth [1:11] Connect. World Youth Connect is an [1:13] organization of young folks who are [1:15] building communities across cultures [1:17] beyond borders, but I like to say [1:19] building safe communities across [1:21] cultures beyond borders. They host [1:23] conversations and provide spaces for [1:25] youth to engage in civic opportunities, [1:27] assisting organizations in youth studies [1:30] and violence prevention metrics, all [1:32] while advocating on behalf of youth. [1:35] Welcome DJ Brooks, World Youth Connect [1:37] CEO and executive director. DJ, please [1:40] take 30 seconds and introduce yourself. [1:43] >> Cool. So, I'm DJ Brooks. I'm the CEO and [1:46] co-founder actually. So, I got to be [1:48] here from day one with World Youth [1:50] Connect, which started off with just an [1:52] idea of young people leading, you know, [1:54] and elevating youth voice in community, [1:57] >> DJ. So, what part of St. Paul are you [1:59] from? [2:00] >> So, originally, um, I actually was born [2:03] in Minneapolis. I was born in, uh, South [2:06] Minneapolis. I left elementary school [2:08] and moved to Philadelphia and then I [2:10] moved on to the east side my sixth grade [2:12] year. [2:12] >> Okay. [2:13] >> Um I moved right above Rondo Library [2:15] when I first came back. So the Rondo [2:18] community was a big impact on a lot of [2:20] the things that I do now attending [2:22] gentleman's groups at the YW.CA and [2:25] >> doing food packaging and stuff like that [2:28] just in community. I watch people do so [2:30] much for the community that it it made [2:32] me want to be a part of it. So [2:33] >> I love it. I'm going to start with some [2:35] icebreaker questions. It's 100° in St. [2:38] Paul. Taking the kids to the pool or [2:41] it's too hot to stand in line. We're at [2:43] the wreck in the air condition playing [2:45] basketball or at the movies. You have to [2:48] choose one. [2:49] >> Just one. [2:50] >> Yep. You outside or you inside to [2:52] choose? [2:52] >> I'm [2:54] [laughter] by choice of by work. I ain't [2:56] even going to say by force. [2:58] >> By choice. Let's say it's a Saturday and [2:59] you guys don't have any programs or [3:01] events planned. So, for me, I I have [3:04] kids. Um I have twins that are four and [3:07] I just had a daughter. Um she's three [3:09] months as of yesterday. Um [3:11] >> full house. Are the twins? Boys, [3:13] >> boy and girl, DJ. [3:15] >> Okay. Okay. That's right. [3:17] >> Y [laughter] [3:19] >> and they're four. [3:20] >> Yep. Day four. [3:21] >> Oh my gosh. [3:22] >> As of June. Um just like the [3:23] organization, actually our fiscal [3:25] calendar matches up with their birthday. [3:27] So [3:27] >> a Well, so yeah. Oh man, [3:30] >> that's a that's a busy house. [3:33] >> Always along with all of our adopted [3:35] kids and [3:36] >> Mhm. [3:36] >> is the boy like taking over. [3:40] >> Honestly, DJ is the little big brother. [3:43] >> Okay. [3:43] >> Um my daughter, she she controls the [3:46] household. [3:47] >> Okay, that sounds about right. [3:48] >> Put her foot down. Yeah. [3:50] >> Okay. Barbecue chicken on the grill with [3:52] potato salad and corn on a cob or fried [3:55] chicken mashed potatoes and gravy of [3:58] your choice. Biscuits and green beans. [4:00] >> Oh, you're making me hungry. [4:03] >> I know. I always ask a food question. [4:05] >> Can I get both? [4:06] >> No. You have to choose one. [4:09] >> Man, cuz them sides on the first one, [4:13] them sides on the second. I kind of want [4:14] to mix and match. [4:15] >> You have to choose one. [4:17] >> All right. Give me the fried chicken. [4:18] Who seasoning it? [laughter] [4:20] Is you is you applying the seasoning or [4:22] is it like [4:23] >> I'll put the season on. [4:24] >> Okay. Yeah, the fried chicken for sure. [4:26] Yeah. [laughter] [4:27] >> Next to DJ, we have Ayanna Zitlo, who is [4:31] the vice president of World Youth [4:32] Connect. Ayanna, please take 30 seconds [4:35] and introduce yourself. [4:36] >> I'm Ayanna. I'm 15 years old and I'm [4:40] vice president of World Youth Connect. [4:43] >> Okay. Tell us about yourself though. [4:45] Like where are you from? What part of [4:46] St. Paul are you? [4:47] >> I'm from the east side of St. Paul. [4:49] Okay. Did you grow up here or did you [4:51] move here? [4:52] >> Um, I grew up on the east side of St. [4:53] Paul. [4:53] >> Okay. So, I would ask you some old [4:55] school questions, but you're 15. Cuz I [4:57] was going to be like, "So, where do you [4:58] where did you hang out back in the day?" [5:02] >> Pain Avenue. [5:03] >> Pain doing what? [5:05] >> With my mom. [5:06] >> Okay. [laughter] [5:09] Okay. Ayana. Potato chips with your hot [5:12] sandwich or French fries? [5:15] You can only choose one. [5:18] >> French fries. Okay. [laughter] All [5:20] right. Grits, cream of wheat, or [5:23] oatmeal? [5:25] Look at her. She don't even eat [5:27] breakfast. [5:27] >> I was going to say I don't even know. I [5:29] don't even know if she know what grits [5:30] is. I [laughter] [5:32] >> DJ grits, cream of wheat, or oatmeal. [5:35] >> It depend on my mood. [5:37] >> Sometimes. Sometimes, you know, the [5:39] grits, you know, cuz it's not as sweet. [5:41] But if I need something a little bit [5:43] sweeter than, you know, cream of wheat. [5:45] >> Okay. [5:45] >> Little sugar on top. [5:46] >> Oh, sugar. I'm a salt and butter girl. [5:49] >> I know. That's why I said with the [5:50] grits, I'm not putting no sugar on no [5:52] grits. That's That's different. [5:54] >> Okay, I'll ask you a different one. On [5:57] the field, tickets at a Vikings game or [6:01] floor seats at the Target Center [6:02] watching the Wolves or VIP suite at the [6:06] Minnesota Wild? Which one? [6:08] >> The tickets at the floor at the [6:10] basketball game. [6:11] >> Okay. So, you want to go to the Wolves [6:13] game? [6:13] >> Mhm. [6:14] >> Okay. Well, I don't have any tickets for [6:15] you, but that it's a question. [6:16] >> It's okay. We we we get we get tickets [6:19] from uh tickets for kids and they give [6:21] opportunities to World Youth Connect and [6:23] the youth. [6:24] >> Awesome. Well, let's jump right into it [6:26] then since we're talking about it. So, [6:28] who is World Youth Connect? [6:31] >> So, I wouldn't even say it's a place. [6:34] It's more of a organization that's a [6:36] movement. It's a mindset. A lot of the [6:38] times World Youth Connect can start off [6:40] as some place that somebody works and [6:42] then it could turn into their safe [6:44] haven. you know, it could be where their [6:46] mindset goes when they're in those rough [6:48] situations. So, where Youth Connect for [6:50] me is really a place for young people to [6:51] come and just be themselves to find [6:53] relationships and mentor each other. We [6:56] push a nearpeer mentor aspect where the [6:59] young people look like each other. [7:00] They're from the same neighborhood. [7:02] They've have that same lived experience. [7:05] So, those transferable skills and those [7:07] relationships really show in everything [7:09] that we do. [7:10] >> Where are you guys centrally located [7:11] then? [7:12] >> Oh, where you connect? Physical location [7:14] is on the east side. Um mostly we're St. [7:16] Paul. We're St. Paul 100%. [7:19] >> And what population are you serving? [7:21] >> Bipac youth. So ages 12 to 25. Um we [7:25] have programming that extends that [7:27] range. That age range is who is in [7:30] control of the organization. Um that 12 [7:32] to 25 they make decisions. Unlike other [7:35] nonprofits, we're actually a democracy. [7:37] >> Okay. [7:38] >> So we vote everybody in a position. [7:40] >> I love it. Um Ayana was voted by her [7:43] peers, [7:43] >> okay, [7:44] >> to be in her position um along with our [7:46] presidents, even myself in my position. [7:48] The needs and the things that I do are [7:51] determined by the needs of the young [7:52] people. [7:53] >> Okay. [7:53] >> It flexes. So [7:55] >> So they're the ones who are pushing the [7:56] agenda for whatever needs to be done and [7:58] you're just supporting. [8:00] >> Yep. The initiatives, the stuff that [8:02] you've seen us done in the past, those [8:03] partnerships, they are 100% in charge of [8:07] how we move forward. My job is to keep [8:10] the culture alive. As young people enter [8:12] and exit and they move on and they go to [8:14] college, I have the opportunity to keep [8:17] that energy that they brought to the [8:18] organization alive. [8:20] >> So when Ayana goes to college and gets a [8:23] degree and graduates high school, all of [8:26] the beautiful ideas that she brought to [8:28] the organization, it's my job to keep [8:30] them alive or just build onto them. I [8:33] like that because there's a lot of [8:34] organizations where when someone moves [8:37] on the dream dies. You know what I mean? [8:40] And so like that's something that people [8:42] could learn. It's like you just keep it [8:45] going. It made it there for a reason. [8:47] There's a purpose behind whatever it is [8:50] that you're trying to do or that you [8:51] were doing in the past. So like just [8:53] keep it going. And there's never anyone [8:54] in organizations that keep it going. [8:57] >> Someone always comes in with some new [8:58] bright ideas. And there's nothing [9:00] against new bright ideas, but sometimes [9:03] the previous things that were put in [9:04] place is what's working. [9:06] >> Yeah. And it's really about the story of [9:09] the young people, you know, and [9:11] unfortunately we see some of those [9:13] stories repeat um good and bad. [9:15] >> Um and to let a young person know that [9:18] somebody has been through something with [9:19] them is really impactful. So that's why [9:22] we keep that spirit alive, whether [9:24] they're with us or whether they moved on [9:26] to go work somewhere else. Actually, our [9:28] former president is on our board now. [9:31] He's 22. So, [9:33] >> just being able to do that and create [9:34] that platform for young people to grow. [9:37] >> So, that's a good segue into my next [9:39] question. What problematic need are you [9:41] serving with World Youth Connect? Like, [9:43] what is it that you're you're doing? [9:46] What is it? [9:47] >> When we started, right, it was during co [9:49] >> there's a social aspect in St. Paul that [9:52] gets overlooked as far as culture. So, [9:54] it's very diverse. As far as World Youth [9:56] Connect, there's 17 different [9:58] ethnicities. Um, most of the people in [10:00] St. Paul are actually mixed or come from [10:03] a specific heritage, but our job is [10:06] really to elevate the culture a lot of [10:08] time. It gets lost in translation, [10:11] especially when you're young trying to [10:12] figure out who you are. It's easy to get [10:14] caught up in something that you see. [10:16] >> Yeah. [10:16] >> So, we try to push culture. We try to [10:19] have them talk about where they're from. [10:20] We try to have them talk about their [10:22] goals based on how their parents feel [10:24] sometimes, you know, and the difference [10:26] because the way that they feel doesn't [10:28] always get elevated. Um, it gets [10:31] dismissed a lot of times, especially [10:33] when business needs to get handled. But [10:35] I really think that they have a voice [10:37] and they they know what they need. They [10:39] just don't really know how to ask for it [10:41] all the time. So, [10:42] >> and we touched on this a little bit [10:44] earlier, but where does your passion for [10:45] this work come from? I started doing [10:49] nonprofit work when I was young. So, I [10:51] started when I was 16. Um, I was kicked [10:53] out of school. I had to do community [10:55] service. If you're from the east side, [10:56] you know Conway rec center. I went to [10:58] Conway and it really just sparked a [11:01] whole different idea for me. It It [11:04] started a whole different pathway for me [11:06] just being in community. So, from [11:09] getting kicked out of school to becoming [11:12] employee of the year 2019 at Sina [11:14] Foundation, um speaking on stage in [11:16] front of 2,000 people that I didn't [11:17] know, um finally meeting the mayor and [11:20] seeing people, it was it was [11:21] life-changing. So, for me, it was really [11:24] a a thing where other people deserve the [11:27] same opportunity. If I was getting in [11:29] trouble, then why doesn't the kid who [11:31] wasn't getting in trouble get that [11:33] opportunity? [11:33] >> Amen. [11:34] >> So, we wanted to level the playing [11:36] field. um saying regardless of what you [11:39] believe in as far as religion, [11:40] regardless of culture, you deserve the [11:42] opportunities that are in the community [11:45] >> um and you can earn them. You can get [11:46] them. You could create them. So that's [11:49] what we did. [11:50] >> Ayana, where does your passion for this [11:52] work come from? [11:54] >> Maybe just like [11:56] working with different people and like [11:59] kids [12:00] >> cuz when I was younger, [12:02] I wasn't really around a lot of my [12:04] cousins or I didn't have any siblings. [12:06] So, I wasn't really around kids. I was [12:08] really around a lot of adults. [12:10] >> So, just being able to work with kids [12:12] and get along and other stuff like that. [12:16] >> And what is it that you want to do in [12:17] this position? [12:19] >> I want to be there for people and be [12:21] able to talk to people and get where [12:23] they're coming from and their issues and [12:26] other things. [12:28] So, what are some of the events that you [12:30] guys have had since you've launched and [12:34] tell us about the work for other [12:36] organizations that you've partnered [12:38] with? [12:39] >> Um, so when we first started off, just [12:42] imagine a room of 30 young people, some [12:44] of which don't have any experience being [12:47] in community. They've never attended a [12:49] national night out because they heard it [12:51] was about police. They don't talk to [12:53] other cultures. they don't try to fit in [12:56] to different places because they don't [12:58] think that they can. So, one of the [13:00] first things that we did as an [13:01] organization was support the Korean [13:03] community, which is really big here in [13:05] St. Paul. Speaking about a war that was [13:07] going on in Myamar, so we supported a [13:09] march that was here in 2021. That was [13:13] one of the first things that we did [13:15] >> and it kind of just you saw the light [13:17] come out of a lot of people. [13:19] >> They started being more sympathetic. [13:21] They started wanting to hear about those [13:22] stories from the Korean community that [13:24] has been here for so long that when I [13:26] was in school, they were here, you know, [13:28] >> but we never talked. We never had that [13:30] communication or they never really [13:33] showed their struggles, you know. They [13:35] >> we saw kids lashing out. We saw kids [13:37] getting in trouble just like the black [13:39] community, you know, [13:40] >> but we didn't know where it stemmed [13:41] from. [13:42] >> In my head, I had to learn a lot from [13:44] our other co-founder, Po. When the [13:47] organization started, my dad passed [13:48] away. M [13:50] >> um and his dad had passed away prior [13:52] when we were working at Conway. So our [13:54] relationship really built off of that [13:56] trauma where it was like we wanted to [13:58] understand what each other was going [13:59] through. And from there we wanted to be [14:02] around everybody. [14:04] >> Uh we started a community conversation [14:06] in partnership with M Health Fairview [14:08] where we got to ask everybody about how [14:11] they felt just coming off of COVID [14:13] talking about stigma uh which is a word [14:16] that I learned when we started the [14:17] organization. [14:18] But yeah, it's a lot that came into play [14:21] and a lot of people who wanted to be a [14:23] part of it that we didn't look at them [14:24] like a business. We didn't look at them [14:26] like a money source. [14:28] >> Yeah. [14:28] >> It was a relationship. So for the first [14:30] couple years, we just substituted that [14:32] kind of business aspect for those [14:34] relationships and community. So [14:36] >> creating some sort of unity. [14:38] >> Yeah. [14:38] >> I love it. I love it. [14:40] >> Tell our audience about your partnership [14:42] with Office of Neighborhood Safety. [14:44] >> It's a beautiful thing. [14:46] >> Beautiful thing. Office of Neighborhood [14:48] Safety was a new organization, too. A [14:50] new office when we got started. [14:52] >> I had the pleasure of meeting Brooke, [14:54] who came in and saw those 30 plus young [14:57] people just figuring it out. The first [15:00] thing that you guys actually did was [15:02] help with a community conversation. [15:04] >> It was people to police. So, having [15:06] young people go and talk to law [15:08] enforcement, whether it was Metro [15:10] Transit, the sheriff's department, or [15:12] the police force, St. Paul police really [15:15] addressing some of the things that they [15:17] needed to hear, you know, like I had one [15:20] kid come up to me and say that they met [15:21] a cop that hasn't arrested anybody. [15:24] >> Mhm. [15:24] >> You know, so and they were confused. [15:26] >> Does exist. [15:27] >> Yeah. Like they don't know that cops [15:29] aren't there to just arrest people [15:31] sometimes and they have different roles [15:32] and they run programming and the POW [15:35] program that used to be around, you [15:37] know, stuff like that. And [15:39] >> it was really eye opening for young [15:40] people. I think you were there. Were you [15:42] there at our No. Community conversation [15:45] m healthare view people the police. I [15:48] checked. [15:48] >> You hadn't gotten there yet? [15:50] >> We were still at uh creator space. [15:53] >> Yeah, probably. [15:54] >> I think you were. [15:55] >> I think [15:55] >> I think she was [15:57] >> you were a participant. This was before [15:59] the whole like [16:00] >> Yeah. [16:00] >> president thing. [16:02] >> Yeah. [laughter] [16:04] Um, but yeah, that was that was really [16:07] the idea when we when we got started was [16:09] to understand what was going on in [16:11] community and the office of neighborhood [16:13] safety opened the door for us to talk to [16:15] those people to really understand what [16:17] their point of view was when it came to [16:19] young people and what they were trying [16:20] to do. [16:21] >> Having an organic conversation for hours [16:23] and eating food with each other and [16:25] laughing and doing activities, it was [16:27] amazing. That's what we wanted to [16:29] happen. So [16:31] >> you guys did really good work. I think [16:32] for like for me when we first started [16:34] working with you, you guys DJ is so [16:37] silly and like [laughter] [16:41] every meeting was like joking session or [16:45] something like that and I was like, "Oh [16:47] my gosh, can we just work?" And I was [16:50] kind of like in a mood because I had [16:52] just started and getting into that work [16:54] and it was me. It can be mentally [16:56] draining, very stressful. But then as I [17:00] got to know DJ, I was like, "Okay, this [17:04] this feels good because I need to just [17:07] take a breath," which is one of our [17:08] previous episodes, [laughter] [17:10] but I need to just take a breath and [17:12] relax and just en enjoy the fact that [17:16] other people are able to laugh and that [17:18] this young man is happy and he's, you [17:22] know, whatever is happening, he's still [17:23] managing to laugh and he's making us [17:25] laugh and but you really do know what [17:28] you're one. Aside from all your [17:30] silliness, you've matured too last year. [17:33] >> This last year, you're different. You're [17:35] a different DJ. [17:36] >> I'm happy to hear it. I'm happy to hear [17:38] it. [17:38] >> You are a different DJ. [17:39] >> I do I do feel older, actually. So, when [17:42] we started when we met, I was 23. [17:44] >> Okay. [17:44] >> Um I was still kind of I was youthful, [17:47] >> okay? I was still I I see people and I'm [17:49] like I love your outfit, you know, like [17:52] I I just like you as a person. I don't [17:54] know you yet, but you just seem like [17:56] somebody who's nice. And when I first [17:58] met you, it was like that. It was like, [18:00] you remind me of somebody [18:01] >> and I got to get to know you, you know? [18:03] So, the joking is kind of like that [18:05] defense that I have up um for when I [18:08] first meet people because I I was a [18:09] professional. I was a professional. But, [18:12] >> um before that, I was just a person. I [18:14] looked at everybody as just a person and [18:16] I touched on it. But I I drop titles a [18:19] lot of times just so then young people [18:20] can see like regardless of if I'm the [18:22] CEO, I could still [18:24] >> make a relationship. We could still push [18:27] and it's time for play. It's time for [18:29] work. But when you can enjoy what you're [18:32] doing, it makes it so much more [18:33] impactful cuz [18:35] >> it's a lot of burnout with this work. [18:37] >> That part, [18:37] >> it's a lot [18:38] >> that part. So you have to laugh. [18:40] >> You got to laugh. So Ayana, one of the [18:43] things that World Youth Connect is [18:45] really great at is they are great with [18:49] connecting with other youth. So one of [18:51] the things that I've learned in my work [18:53] is that there's no better way to reach [18:55] youth than to use youth to do it right [18:58] because you guys can relate to each [19:00] other. You know what you're thinking. [19:02] You know what you need. You know what [19:03] your strategies are. You know how you [19:05] feel. You understand the same language [19:07] cuz you guys speak a totally different [19:08] language than us over four years. So, [19:11] why is that important? Because that's [19:13] one of the things that you guys are [19:14] really good at. Why is it so important [19:16] that youth are the ones reaching out to [19:20] youth about politics and about community [19:23] issues and about violence prevention? [19:26] >> I feel like it's important because [19:29] hearing it from an adult kind of like [19:32] some kids tune it out when they hear it [19:34] from an adult. [19:35] >> Mhm. and hearing it from a youth like [19:38] they like to listen to other youth [19:39] sometimes not all the time but sometimes [19:43] and that's yeah and a lot of the times [19:48] we don't understand what adults really [19:50] want to come and say so when the youth [19:54] say it we sometimes understand it [19:56] >> and you receive it better [19:59] >> um yesterday you did an interview [20:03] right [20:03] >> yes [20:04] >> um [snorts] with Naa our current [20:06] president. Um, you want to talk about [20:08] how it feels to interview other young [20:10] people for a position? [20:12] >> It feels nice. It's just hard sometimes [20:15] because [20:18] like like I said, not we don't listen to [20:20] each other all the time, but [20:23] >> I feel like it's really nice because [20:26] >> for me when I'm being interviewed by an [20:29] older person, I really feel really [20:31] nervous sometimes. [20:32] >> Mhm. So when I I don't I didn't get [20:36] interviewed for a Youth Connect, but I [20:37] had an adult talk to me and I was really [20:39] nervous at the time cuz I didn't know [20:41] what I was going into. But I feel like [20:44] when you talk to another youth that's [20:47] going to be working with you and [20:50] doing a lot of things that you're going [20:51] to be doing, it's like it's better in a [20:55] type of way. [20:55] >> It puts each other at ease. [20:57] >> Yeah. And I know that's one of the [20:58] things that we were banking on when we [21:01] partnered with you guys is that it will [21:05] put other youth at ease if they're [21:07] talking with other youth. [21:10] >> Especially if Never mind. [21:13] >> No, go ahead. Go ahead. I was going to [21:14] say especially if we like look like each [21:16] other. [21:17] >> Yeah. [21:17] >> So, [21:18] >> Exactly. [21:19] >> Not Yeah. [21:20] >> Exactly. There's no intimidation factor. [21:23] There's no feeling like you're being [21:24] told what to think or what to do. you [21:27] can just be open and honest with each [21:28] other. [21:29] >> And that's important when we when we're [21:31] conducting surveys and trying to gather [21:33] information about different projects and [21:36] policies and different things like that. [21:37] It's important for us to get the truth [21:38] from you guys, not just what you think [21:41] we want to hear. [21:42] >> Yeah. And we did we did something really [21:45] big. We did something really big. [21:47] >> Some really big. Office of Neighborhood [21:49] Safety, World Youth Connect, and Harvard [21:52] actually partnered to do a research [21:53] project. Yes. That was the step two from [21:56] the community conversation. [21:57] >> Yes. [21:58] >> During that research project, we came [22:00] across and actually backtracked. We [22:04] trained eight young people on [22:06] facilitation interviews and really just [22:09] talking to one another. We got to meet [22:11] you. [22:12] >> You guys were very present during that [22:14] during that period. But even putting it [22:16] together, even the very start from day [22:19] one, there was youth voice involved. [22:21] >> Yep. Um, which was different for me [22:24] because that was our first time actually [22:26] working with a city [22:28] >> municipality. [22:29] >> Yeah. And it was it for me I was [22:31] nervous. [22:32] >> Don't get me wrong. I was nervous a [22:34] little bit. I was intimidated. [22:36] >> Now Brooke Brooke made it really easy. [22:39] >> Mhm. [22:39] >> Because like I said, I felt like I got [22:41] adopted by ONS almost day one where [22:44] everybody was kind of just pushing me in [22:46] different aspects and [22:48] >> leaning on me and I was able to lean on [22:50] you guys. So, I definitely appreciate [22:52] everything you are and what you do. [22:54] >> Yeah. [22:55] >> But that project was really big. It led [22:57] to a 40-page report that talked about [23:00] public safety from the eyes of young [23:02] people who have been here. Everybody was [23:05] compensated. I actually did you do an [23:08] interview? [23:09] >> Oh, [laughter] so uh Ayana was still a [23:12] member and actually did an interview [23:14] with us, too. [23:15] >> Okay. [23:15] >> You want to talk about how that felt? [23:17] See, she probably didn't even realize [23:18] that she was part of this big thing. [23:20] Yeah, she just she was just [23:22] interviewing. [23:22] >> Um, it felt really nice. A lot of the [23:25] things I was really confused about [23:27] because I didn't really know a lot then. [23:31] >> So, [23:32] >> but you learned a lot. [23:33] >> Yeah, I learned a lot. [23:34] >> Mhm. [23:35] >> She 15 now, so that means she was [23:37] >> probably 13, 14 then. Um, [23:40] >> was a baby [23:41] >> eating pizza and answering questions. [23:43] [laughter] [23:44] >> Yeah. and Ayana came through [23:49] a avenue of World Youth Connect that [23:50] some young people are coming through [23:52] now. [23:53] >> Um we have a partnership with Ramsey [23:55] County Corrections uh juvenile [23:57] corrections specifically um working with [23:59] the probation officers and corrections [24:02] to get young people started with World [24:04] Youth Connect. Okay. [24:05] >> So Ayana came through a referral on [24:07] probation. [24:07] >> I love it. I love it. I absolutely love [24:11] it. One of the things too like back to [24:15] youth reaching youth and being like the [24:17] best people to work with each other is I [24:20] attended one of the events that you guys [24:23] um had did with hired and you guys keep [24:27] each other in check. [24:29] >> Yeah. [24:29] >> Like for real. I mean like I was sitting [24:32] cuz I didn't want to like be an active [24:34] participant but I wanted to observe [24:35] right because we contracted with hire to [24:37] do some violence prevention and [24:40] alternative public safety work and was [24:42] sitting in the back and you know there [24:44] were some kids that weren't part of [24:46] World Youth Connect but they were [24:48] participants. they were going to [24:49] participate in the discussion or [24:50] whatever and they were kind of like, you [24:52] know, talking and not really engaging [24:54] and just, you know, and someone from [24:57] World Youth Connect, one of the other [24:59] young folks came up and tapped him on [25:01] the shoulder and was just like, "Hey, [25:03] you this ain't that you got to get a I [25:05] was like, "Wow, tighten up." [25:06] >> I love cuz I was sitting back there and [25:08] I was like, "I'm not anybody's mom in [25:10] here." But I wanted to like be like, [25:11] "Listen, you you need to be quiet." [25:14] [laughter] [25:15] >> But I was like, "Nope, I'm not." But [25:16] like you guys keep each other like [25:20] attentive, [25:21] um, accountable, you know, responsible. [25:25] I I love that. I love that. And it I [25:27] think it it works well because you're [25:31] like mentor to mentor, you know what I [25:33] mean? Or youth to youth. It works it it [25:36] comes off differently than Lana coming [25:38] into the room. [25:39] >> I mean, we are the community we serve. [25:42] Mhm. [25:43] >> So, a lot of times those young people, [25:46] whether they're part of World Youth [25:47] Connect or not, they have a relationship [25:49] somehow. They've seen them outside. [25:51] They've seen them in school. They saw [25:53] them at the grocery store, you know, or [25:55] they saw somebody like them. [25:57] >> So, when they're doing those [25:58] corrections, it's not as scary. They're [26:00] not anticipating the worst thing that [26:03] happen all the time, you know, [26:05] especially if people are willingly [26:07] participating in something [26:08] >> and we give them that power to correct [26:12] each other. You know, I'm not going to [26:13] step in if I see Ayana talking to [26:15] another young person. [26:17] >> I'm not going to automatically think [26:18] that she's telling them something wrong. [26:21] And with being an adult, with the older [26:23] generation, it's easy to see two young [26:25] people talking and think that they're [26:27] talking about something negative. Mhm. [26:29] >> Um especially when it's the young men [26:31] >> wearing shyies, uh vaping, you know. But [26:35] I've seen some of the most powerful [26:37] correction and the most powerful [26:39] conversations not come from me talking [26:42] to a young person, but a young person [26:44] talking to a young person and that's [26:46] what we wanted to push. So every aspect [26:49] of every program we push that nearpeer [26:51] mentorship aspect. [26:52] >> Beautiful. How does the work you do [26:56] impact violence prevention? And both I [26:58] want both of you guys to answer it. [27:01] >> Ayana, you want to you want to start? I [27:03] only ask because I know you've been [27:05] impacted by violence and I've seen your [27:08] growth and I really want you to kind of [27:10] touch on that instead of beating people [27:14] up. What do you do now? [laughter] [27:17] Um, [27:18] so I'm just going to start from what [27:22] happened when I was younger. [27:23] >> Start. [27:24] >> So when I was 5 years old in 2015, my [27:28] mom had passed away from gun violence. [27:30] >> And that was a really hard time for me. [27:33] And also by getting taken away from my [27:36] dad, having to move in with my grandma [27:40] was really a hard time. [27:42] And growing up, it was really hard [27:45] understanding my culture and [27:49] understanding stuff a little bit more [27:51] better. So, growing up, I wasn't really [27:56] around [27:58] black folks. [28:00] >> Okay. [28:00] >> So, it was just like me under trying [28:02] wanting to understand my other side of [28:05] my family more [28:06] >> and stuff. So, [28:08] >> So, one of your parents is black and one [28:10] of your parents is of another [28:11] nationality. [28:11] >> Yes. [28:12] and black. [28:13] >> Okay. And so you weren't around your [28:14] black folks, your black. Okay. Okay. [28:17] >> So when I was growing up, it was really [28:20] hard [28:21] >> trying to figure myself out and stuff. [28:24] >> Yeah. [28:24] >> So then [28:25] >> I was diagnosed with PTSD [28:28] >> and a lot and a couple other things. So [28:32] yeah. And then I kind of learned [28:34] throughout the years that I need to [28:36] control myself and the things like I [28:39] can't really control other things that [28:42] other people do or [28:45] like stuff like that. So I had to [28:46] control my emotions and stuff and I [28:49] learned to do that. [28:50] >> That's when I learned [28:52] >> when I went to where you connect I [28:54] learned a lot of that [28:56] >> from Oir and DJ and Mimi [28:58] >> Mhm. [28:59] >> and a couple other people. So [29:01] >> a it's giving me goosebumps. [29:04] >> Yeah. And this [29:05] >> DJ, tell me how does the work you guys [29:08] do impact violence prevention. [29:11] >> So we created a platform where young [29:14] people can fail forward. [29:16] >> Um they can come in with a horrible [29:18] attitude. It's really our job to [29:20] challenge that mindset to figure out why [29:23] they see things a certain way. What led [29:26] up to them making a decision that the [29:28] community wasn't for them. And by doing [29:30] that, it really opened up a lot of [29:33] doors. It opened up our eyes too. You [29:35] said I matured. Uh part of that was the [29:38] work. You know, I had to um becoming a [29:41] role model and then Ayana becoming a [29:44] role model and watching people just grow [29:46] and it has a bigger impact on you [29:48] personally. That impact lingers into [29:51] your everyday life. [29:53] >> It's not just a 2hour program anymore. [29:56] It's 24 hours a day. I got a kid who [29:59] changed his name on Instagram to Tuan [30:01] from World Youth Connect. [30:03] >> A [30:03] >> so like you know he made he made a [30:06] platform just so then he could be a part [30:08] of a community and it's a community of [30:11] young leaders. [30:13] They'll they'll check me [30:15] >> you know which sometimes, you know, I [30:16] got I got to remind them like I'm not [30:18] your age. I know I dress a certain way [30:20] and I talk a certain way and I get [30:22] y'all. I understand where you coming [30:24] from. But on the other side of that, it [30:26] gives a bigger responsibility for being [30:29] in community at all times. That's what [30:31] World Youth Connect does for a lot of [30:33] people. [30:34] >> And it's not for everybody. [30:36] >> You know, this program, it sometimes [30:38] it's too intense. Sometimes people need [30:40] that kind of step back. And we've made [30:43] those adjustments. We do one-on- ones [30:45] now. We'll do more closed door [30:47] interviews instead of just throwing you [30:49] in a room with 40 other young people. [30:51] You know, [30:52] >> building that relationship is really [30:54] important for us because like I said, [30:56] whether you invest into the program, [30:58] whether you want to be a part of this, I [31:00] still want to know you as a person. I [31:02] don't want you not to get a resource [31:03] because you're not a World Youth Connect [31:05] member. As a person, you just got to [31:08] >> let people get ready. Um, so [31:12] >> I love it. What are the goals you have [31:15] for the youth in St. Paul Ayana? [31:18] My goals are well, when I got elected, I [31:23] talked about this a little bit. I just [31:25] want people to be able to get along [31:27] without being in violence. [31:30] >> Mhm. [31:31] >> Like we are losing a lot of people. So, [31:34] it's just really hard [31:37] for a lot of youth in St. Paul right [31:39] now. [31:39] >> Mhm. [31:40] >> Um cuz I'm in a gun violence group named [31:44] Cave. [31:45] >> Okay. And we have a whole board of St. [31:48] Paul. [31:49] >> Yep. [31:49] >> And there's like [31:52] a lot on there. [31:53] >> I don't even know the number, but it's a [31:57] lot of shootings and homicides in St. [31:59] Paul. [32:00] >> So, you have a board with numbers are [32:02] track numbers tracking the death toll [32:04] and stuff. [32:05] >> That's what Office of Neighborhood [32:06] Safety was funding that partnership with [32:08] Hired. Um Yeah. So, our young people are [32:12] over there tracking actually the crime [32:14] rate. Yeah. [32:15] >> Um they're tracking the shootings. [32:16] They're looking at who's being affected [32:18] more. [32:19] >> Um and then they're they're taking all [32:21] of that information in and then trying [32:23] to figure out what they could do to [32:24] change it. [32:25] >> Yeah. [32:26] >> Um so it's it's very impactful the work [32:28] that they're doing over there. [32:30] >> What are your goals for the youth in St. [32:32] Paul? [32:34] >> I want to have fun. No. [laughter] [32:36] Um I'm I'm challenging people's mindset. [32:39] You know, a lot of times people come in [32:41] and they think conflict has to lead to [32:43] violence. you know that me not agreeing [32:46] with you has to lead to me harming you [32:48] in some type of way or disliking you in [32:50] some type of way. [32:51] >> You better preach, DJ. [32:53] >> Um I I'm working against that [32:56] [clears throat] at all times. Um on the [32:58] clock and off the clock. Um just seeing [33:00] people really be people more. [33:03] >> Um seeing somebody that's mad and then [33:06] instead of getting mad with them asking [33:08] them what the problem is and if I can [33:10] correct it for them. um or if I know [33:13] somebody like you who can talk to them [33:15] from a different angle. [33:17] >> Um but my goal really is just to push [33:20] people being nice again. You know, just [33:22] letting people go through their emotions [33:24] without it being that conflict, without [33:26] it being something that leads to [33:28] violence. And it's not something that I [33:31] was taught growing up either. It's it's [33:33] harder to challenge myself sometimes [33:35] when it when it occurs. You know, you [33:37] you plan stuff out. you you train [33:39] yourself for a situation and when it [33:41] actually happens um in that 60 seconds, [33:45] you know, the reaction is what I'm used [33:47] to sometimes. [33:49] >> Um but now I really I really do push [33:53] people just to be people. If you're [33:55] having a bad day, if you if you messed [33:57] up, then you you messed up, you know, [33:59] and it's okay to talk about it. It's [34:02] okay to talk about it without that [34:04] judgment, without somebody being like, [34:05] "Oh, I'm gonna call the cops because you [34:07] just told me that you did something [34:09] wrong." You know, it's it's not always [34:10] something that has to get escalated to [34:13] that extent, [34:13] >> right? [34:14] >> It doesn't have to lead to violence. So, [34:16] >> right, DJ and Ayanna, thank you. You [34:20] guys are doing great things. The city of [34:22] St. Paul is working to rehabilitate, [34:24] intervene, and provide safer [34:26] neighborhoods. If you'd like to learn [34:28] more about World Youth Connect, how you [34:30] can be involved or donate, please visit [34:32] them at world youthconnect.org. [34:35] If you'd like to learn more about [34:36] community first public safety in the [34:38] office of neighborhood safety, please [34:39] visit us at staul.govs.