FYA Fearless & Loud

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FEARLESS YOUTH ASSOCIATION Digital Media Training Programs |Oct 20 - March 21

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CONTACT DETAILS

2nd Floor, 151 – 153 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR

#FEARLESSANDLOUD SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE By Jaya Gordon-Moore

At Fearless Youth Association (FYA) we are offering our social media platforms to help elevate voices, not How do you get involved? only through sharing informative content on black To get involved: communities and celebrating and black excellence, but through arts via our #FearlessAndLoud challenge. We are tired of mainstream media platforms misrepresenting and underrepresenting us and so we created this challenge to help black creatives connect, empower each other, inform and spread positivity during such difficult times. As recent statistics show, those from the black community, particularly black women, are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 - Create a short video (preferably one minute) or take a picture that represents what it means to be black to you. This can be in any format, whether it’s a poem, a speech, a vlog, a rap, a fashion piece or some art! We want you to decide as it is about elevating your voices and celebrating the range and diversity in black culture that the media so frequently tries to squeeze into a stereotype. in several ways. Whether it’s the impacts on wellbeing, - Make sure you are following us on at least one the racial bias of institutions, or the increased social media, post your creative piece using the impoverishment in black communities, the statistics hashtag #FearlessAndLoud and tag us too! are devastating. - We will repost all that follow the first two steps So far, we have had some great submissions from and shout you out! We will also stay in contact for black creatives worldwide. Some have rapped, some future events and discussions! have done a spoken word piece, and others have written poetry. There is no age or geographical limit or You can message us if you have any questions. For deadline for this project, it is ongoing! more information go to our social media pages: We are unapologetically black! What does your blackness mean to you? Say it loud and proud! Whether it’s about your experiences, your history or your culture. Whatever your blackness means to you we want to know! FYA Notts

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We are currently trying to reach and update our audiences through our social media (mostly Instagram page) to highlight what’s going on in Nottingham and across the world to inspire people and make them aware of what they can get involved in and what they can achieve, alongside informative content around Black Lives Matter movement and other social issues. We also use our YouTube page a lot and are currently airing our series called Modern Day Mullatos (see other article) and several Nottingham-based digital stories that celebrate social cohesion.

Sounds Of Lockdown By Jaya Gordon-Moore

As a collaboration project with Primary. Fearless Youth Association are putting together an exciting new project for young aspiring creatives (aged 1625) to reflect on life in lockdown. The aim of the project is to give young creatives an opportunity to get involved in creative avenues, develop their skills and elevate their voices.

To do this, we are offering several workshops over the few weeks, both face-to-face and via zoom. Each workshop is focused on a different element of sound, from looking at sound technology and learning how to record sound, to writing and sound scaping. The end goal of this project is to produce a podcast exhibiting all of the sounds we create compiled.

‘If lockdown was a collection of sounds, what would these sounds be?’

‘When this is over, what would you like to do?’

‘Throughout lockdown, what was happening around you?’ people in particular, with the future seeming more unpredictable than ever. We also know how much creative avenues can be helpful in not only reflecting on this, but to connect and empower people.

Additionally, this project is youth focused, and so could really help bridge the ever-growing gap between not only everyone as individuals throughout lockdown, but the younger generation and the older generation. It could help to show how beneficial creative projects are for wellbeing, social cohesion, and overall understanding.

The great thing about this project is that no one can be too much of a rookie or overqualified. Throughout the weeks the project will offer a chance to:

- Explore a wide range of writing styles (from rap, to spoken word, to monologues) - Sound scaping, sound production and using loops to create sound. - Recording sound - Creating a podcast - Exhibiting and performing. ‘Throughout lockdown, what thoughts/feelings were going through your mind?’

‘What have you learnt during this time?’

‘Name 3 belongings that have helped you during lockdown’

Another nice thing about this project is it is extremely flexible and is all about what the young people want and need.

Even if they do not feel comfortable or confident to use their voice in this project, they can explore sound scaping and producing sound. If those who want to get involved do not have access to certain materials, whether its Wi-Fi, or writing equipment - we are here to support you!

We are going to provide those who sign up with sketchbooks, pens and postcards throughout the weeks to help them reflect on lockdown and develop their skills. BBC Nottingham have also shown an interest and are really intrigued to find out how we develop this, they even said they would love to interview those who sign up! career, let alone know how to approach it.

Especially during COVID-19 with live shows, open mics and a lot of creative events being cancelled. This project allows a safe space for us all to explore new skills, reflect on lockdown and connect with likeminded people.

It is not too late for anyone to sign up during the process of this project. If you like the sound of it (no pun intended), or know someone who might be interested contact: jaya@mojatu.com

MODERN DAY MULLATOS PODCAST; A DANGEROUS MIX

In partnership with Fearless Youth Association (FYA) , the Modern Day Mullatos (MDM) started during the emergence of what has been labelled the biggest civil rights movement in history. After the death of George Floyd (May 25th 2020), and the longstanding history of racial prejudice, violence and discrimination across the world against non-white people, millions of people across the globe stood up to peacefully protest, elevate their voices and stimulate change. Alongside protesting in our local areas, Me (Jaya), Kofi, and JJ felt so hurt and angered by the current climate, that we had to do more. We have been friends through our music careers and social media for a while and related over the fact that we were all mixed race. So we decided to create a podcast series, all about racial and social issues, intersectionality’s and progressive politics from our perspective.

Understanding intersectionality

Drawing from intersectional studies, we recognise that oppression and privilege is a reflexive process that heavily relies on one’s identity and the social constructs and contracts around

By Jaya Gordon-Moore that. For example to be a Black man is very different to being a white women, or a middle class Black person with a physical disability is very different to being a working class Asian person who is mentally ill. In summary, intersectionality looks at the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, gender, sexuality, disability etc. They create overlapping interdependent systems of discrimination and disadvantage, but also advantage. These identity structures are so important to recognise because they determine how society treats us, and how we experience it in turn. Not only is there a lot of research into the complex nature of the mixed race identity, but also how a lot of the time, in the words of Earl Sweatshirt we feel, ‘Too

black for the white kids, and too

white for the blacks. Although we know we are black, and no one can take that away from us, we know that our experience is different from some of our Black and White counterparts.

Our spelling. Our Voices.

The name Modern Day Mullatos is a modern twist on the offensive noun 'mulatto' meaning a person of mixed white and Black ancestry, especially a person with one white and one Black parent. We changed the spelling to reclaim and redefine the word for our own. Like how rapper and activist Tupac Shakur used the word ‘Nigga’ to empower himself and others, redefining it as ‘Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished’. The goal of the podcast is not only to relate, but to inform, inspire, empower and stimulate change. Our short term goal is our biweekly podcasts on YouTube, but our long term goal is to be going into schools and setting up workshops.

Episodes so far and where to watch.

As mentioned before, the series is on YouTube via Fearless Youth Associations channel. So far we have released seven episodes, discussing a range of topics:

1) Everyday racism and being mixed race 2) Why reverse racism is a myth 3) A Movement Not A Moment, what are the next steps? 4) Can we forgive racists? 5) WEAR A MASK KAREN! 6) SUPREMACY 7) UK POLICE, FIX OR DITCH?

The topics are diverse and unique. Such as episode 5, where we link the anti-mask protests to the concept of white fragility and discuss how it is so detrimental to the Black Lives Matter protests. In our latest episode (7), we critically discuss the history of policing in the UK and USA and its aims. We look into the debate of community action and defunding the police, discussing whether reform is possible. We also look at representation, racial bias, and denial of institutional racism in the criminal justice system. To find us easily, you can either go to our social medias (linked below) or scan the QR code on this page!

Follow us on social media

Instagram: @fya_notts @themdmpod

Twitter: @fya_notts @themdmpod

Podcast speakers Instagram handles: @yungmajay @drskxl @ jayahadadream

STABBING IN CENTRAL NOTTINGHAM 12TH OCTOBER 2020 By Jaya Gordon-Moore

news, and recognise the importance in expanding our work further to reach more young people. Nevertheless with the emergence of COVID-19 across the UK earlier this year, the way that organisations and institutions approach youth crime has had to change and adapt. With local lockdowns and the tier system, youth crime and crime in general has been particularly hard to prevent and tackle. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions has further put pressure on our young people, particularly those from poor socio-economic backgrounds and from BAME communities.

Yesterday (12th October 2020) the Nottinghamshire Police were called to Milton Street, near the Intu Victoria Centre at around 13.15pm following a man being stabbed to death in front of numerous shoppers. Officers tried to revive the victim at the scene, but he died shortly afterwards. A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder minutes after. They discrimination, misrepresentation and lack of

later arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murder. A few days before (9th October 2020), two teenagers (16-year-old and 18-year-old boys) were arrested after a man in his 20s was stabbed outside Intu Victoria Centres McDonald’s at around 5pm.

Nottinghamshire Police aim to treat knife crime as a ‘public health’ issue, meaning the focus will be on bringing together different organisations, institutions and communities to work on prevention. In April 2019, the Knife Crime Strategy put in place in 2018 was reviewed, as knife crime had increased by the end of 2019 by 9.5%. The Nottinghamshire police department pathway if you feel like you are not valued or respected

then introduced the Youth Endowment Fund, run by Impetus, in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation and Social Investment Business, aimed to prevent children and young people getting caught up in crime and violence by making sure that those at risk get the support they need as early as possible.

Here at Fearless Youth Association (FYA) our key aims are to inform, empower, inspire and develop young people, particularly young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities at risk of getting involved in crime. We offer a range of support from online knife crime support, social media campaigns, online free creative media training programmes, and other workshops to give young people a chance to develop skills, elevate their voices, and stimulate change. We also do a lot of awareness work through digital stories on our social media and YouTube social cohesion and understanding between groups in Nottingham. We are incredibly saddened by the recent

“Within the community we provide for, we have seen a rise in the need of food parcels, particularly in BAME households. In the last few weeks we have increased our service from 40 food parcels to 70” – Jaya GordonMoore, FYA

Over the past twenty years, several sociologists have examined the relationship between young people and society, particularly those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, concluding that their position in society is one riddled with hopelessness, opportunities. Austerity cuts since the financial crisis in 2008 have disproportionately impacted those from these non-white and poor socio-economic backgrounds. In that same time, there has been several stories of racism and mistreatment from the police in Nottingham let alone the rest of the UK.

‘In a society that continues to treat one based on their colour of skin, social background, clothes they wear, culture, religion and more, it is difficult not to link this with the increase of feelings of isolation among youth, leading to discontent, hopelessness, low selfesteem and crime. I think it’s difficult to lead a positive channel, to help educate, inform, but also increase

in society as much as someone else. I can see why they might be more motivated to join a criminal lifestyle, where they can earn street respect, they can provide for their families etc. I think it is important that our city works on recognising the inherent racial bias and breaking it down. Showing these young people what they can do, empowering them. We need more youth opportunities, more funding in these areas, and more work on empowerment and bridging the ever growing gap between institutions, community organisations and young people.’ – Jaya Gordon-Moore, FYA