Check out this clip that features our brother Sha Reagans and the Team Academy and TEAM Charter School initiative. They are using creative methods, innovation, and a bit of an unorthodox system, Team Academy’s staff are striving to “Living To Change Something” by truly “Teaching the babies.”
We are proud of you Sha!Shawadeim Reagans
TEAM Charter Schools - The mission of TEAM Charter Schools is to create a network of schools in Newark, New Jersey, that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in college, in order to change the world. TEAM was founded on the belief that Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM). Both inside and outside of the classroom, students are consistently engaged in character-building teamwork with the motto: Team always beats individual.
We do not say “Teach The Babies” because we thought it sounds good or would look cool on a t-shirt, instead this is an ideal we firmly believe to be our civic duty.
Many have heard the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child,” however most of us ignore the youth as they commit perpetuated social crimes right in front of our faces. Whether it be cursing out an elder, showing bad manners, being vulgar or violent; we often turn our heads. Our excuse is either: “Its not my problem” or “I’m minding my business, because I wish not to be a victim.” This is the product of Fear!!
We fear becoming the victim. However, ignoring the problem doesn’t help either. Eventually the negative will continue to spread fast, if no light is exposed to defeat the darkness. And that negative germ will eventually end up at your doorstep. Simply closing the door will not save you, because the negative energy will find an open window and enter your household; in turn, possessing your neighbor, your sibling, your nephew, your child! It is inevitable!
Here is a principle to consider: If we wish to change our society, starting with our neighborhoods, we must start with changing what we see before us. Take one child and school him/her. Build a relationship with one kid on the corner. Understand him! Find out his story. Expose him/her to options they never believed possible. And that, my friend, will make you a superhero in their eyes.
In order to change society, you must start 1st with yourself, and then share that positive light with the youth. Because the youth represent endless possibilities.
Continue to Teach The Babies!
- coup d’etat Brooklyn
Here are a few videos to remind us of the impact of misguidance:
CDTBK hosted a children art workshop at Restoration Plaza. The goal was to expose the kids to the artwork that was being displayed in the gallery from the “Live To Change Something Through Art” exhibit, and giving them the opportunity to create some artwork of their own.
The format of the workshop was simple - paint to the music! CDT Affiliate Melly-Mel and Daoud spearheaded the workshop by instructing the kids how to participate. The workshop lasted 2 1/2 hours. When it was all said and done, we had a gallery of about 60 paintings by kids ranging for the ages 3 - 10.
This was a beautiful day with beautiful children. A special thanks and shout out to: Dahkil Hausif, Melly Mel, Tamara Orozco (photographer), Helena Moke, Danny Davis & T Cleo Austin for volunteering their time and efforts, this weekend.
Peace! I’m sure the majority of you guys have caught at least one episode of BET’s College Hill: South Beach. If you didn’t, this season on the BET’s hit reality show, not only did we witness a season packed with energy and excitement, but we also witnessed a great deal of CDTBK apparel throughout the months. From the classic “TEACH THE BABIES” to the bold “DUM MCS” tee, the cast from College Hill represented. Peep the support:
“Take a trip through Brooklyn, one of the most diverse places in the world. What looks familiar to you? What looks new? Did you know that nearly 40% of the people who live here were born somewhere else? Or that more than 125 languages are spoken here? Visit the World Brooklyn exhibit and find out—through the stories of real people and places—how ‘Brooklyn is home to everyone from everywhere!’”- World Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has lots of fun things lined up this upcoming May and would love to share their possibilities with families throughout the world. Freshly remodeled in September of 2008, the museum has become a learning center for kids of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. With a fusion of culture, science, health and hands on experiences- the museum is an Utopia for underage learning. After school camps, World Brooklyn and weekly events make The Brooklyn Museum a place to “Teach The Babies,” while investing in our future. Sounds Dope? I think so.
Watch the NY Times “Museum Reopening” video by clicking HERE.
I remember being a kid, 5 yrs old visiting my grandmother, spending my days playing in the streets on the block my father grew up on in Queens, It was like sesame street minus The Muppets (and before Crack), kids of all ages everywhere free to play stick ball, tag, kick the can, double dutch, skelly. At that age I spent many of my days unsupervised, riding my big wheel up and down the block and getting into the normal urban childhood adventure. We played allot, we were free to engage in childhood independent fun. There was no one watching us, cause the whole block was looking out for us, we were everyone’s kids, if anyone even a child noticed something fishy going on, the news would make it’s way to an adult and the situation would be taken care of.
“Watching, hearing, or later learning of a parent being harmed, threatens the core sense of stability and security provided by family. Children, who live in a household with domestic abuse experience sadness, fear, guilt, anger, shame and confusion. The impact of witnessing a parent being emotionally and physically injured is intensified when another parent figure is responsible for the violence.”- Scotland.gov
Children are always victims of our regrets or mistakes. Children watch and duplicate. If we teach them how to be slaves- they slave. If we teach them how to play basketball- they play basketball. Their social norms are created through their household, the media, their community and their time spent at school. The same thing happens with different forms of abuse. We learn the majority of our behaviors from our childhood- including being abusive to our partners.
According to CNN.com’s article, “How to avoid dating an abusive creep” these are some signs you need to look out for, in order to protect yourself from being in an abusive relationship and ultimately protecting your children:
1.) If the person is too close, too fast
2.) If he/or she is a green-eyed monster
3.) If he/or she asks, “You’re wearing THAT?!?”
4.) If he or she is a control freak
5.) If he/or she plays the blame game
Please protect your babies.
Get the complete story HERE or watch the video on the next page to find out you can protect the kids in your community from being harmed and/or how create the safest environment for your sons and daughters. TEACH THE BABIES and be an example. Read more »
IGNORANCE… LIES… FEAR... are the things that continue to perpetuate these types of crimes against humanity, against oppressed poor people, black people- us. I watched that video of OSCAR GRANT’S MURDER. It’s terrible what happened. It makes me think of the history of young black (and Latino) men being killed by police. It makes me think of how these men, could have been me. I think of being 12-yrs-old and feeling the cold steel of a cocked police shot gun repeatedly rammed into my back in front of my father and uncle, as they yell for the police to “stop,” That I “was only a kid” and it made me sad… sad cause I wanted to get angry, but I didn’t have any one person to blame or be angry with. When I look at this video I don’t see an “evil bloodthirsty lunatic” pull his gun and maliciously shoot a running man down- I see a scared, ignorant, powerless, unqualified idiot, accidentally shoot a man who’s cuffed and lying on the ground. It makes me think of how deeply the lies & fear run, it makes me ask the question, “How dangerous was I, as a 12-yr-old in the eyes of those officers?” I think about how dangerous and monstrous a cuffed man on the ground must seem, to whereas this idiot cop felt “the need” to have his hand anywhere near his gun.
Shawadeim Reagans
Live To Change Something, Teach The Babies | Rasupreme February 25, 2010 | 
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