The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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the large number of minority youth that are confronted with in Polk county. The hiring of
additional minorities was seen as a possible solution.
Minorities need to interact with people who understand their cultural
background and who can act as role models.
Most of the kids that I see here come from different cultural and economic
backgrounds and I certainly think that there are different types of things
that those kids need. I think the administration needs to hire more
minorities. I think, not only is it important to have those people to work
directly with the youth, but I think it is important for us to have them.
There is no way on Earth that I can know what it is like to be black but
another black JCO could help me to understand and to deal with the youth
and be there for a resource if I am going to be the JCO for that kid.
I think mentoring programs would be good because there are plenty of
minorities out there succeeding. If we could see a real assertive effort on
the part of those minorities to set examples and be more visible, that
would be very positive.
Programs with a very strong black male role model which a lot of black
youth are lacking in their home environment. Role models that will tell
them to do as they do and set an example. This is what a lot of young
black male youth are missing.
Other programs or ideas were also suggested. These focused on the creation of
more community based programs, job opportunities, and recreational activities.
I think that some of these kids in the lower socioeconomic classes need to
be given more job training and to be given that advantage to be able to go
out and find a job.
I think there are some things that are going on in the community that can
affect some of