Savage Inequalities

     In between my classes I read some of my book, "Savage Inequalities", by Jonathan Kozol. For all the people that are interested in public education, I would recommend this book to you. It describes many of the challenges that public schools face, especially those that are in neighborhoods that do not have adequate resources. This book was written from experiences during the 1990s time period, but many of the issues that the author discusses are still a struggle for many schools in this day and age.  

     One of the most important issues that this book covers is the issue of diversity among public schools. When I was growing up, I attended a dominantly black middle school, which had a tremendous lack of resources; while there was another school that was closer to my home and had ample resources and smaller classrooms. Due to where I lived I could not attend the better school, because my neighborhood was zoned for the other school. I found that this chapter was especially relatable, and full of some very intriguing experiences. If you share this passion, you should check it out! It is a fairly small book, with about 6 or 7 chapters. 

About New Pathways for Youth

     The internship that I am involved with is, New Pathways for Youth. This non-profit provides mentors for our youth in Phoenix, and responds to the needs of children in dense populations. Along with mentorship, they provide workshops for the youth and mentors that provide a foundation for developing leadership and interpersonal skills. This organization is all about the empowerment of young people, and teaching our youth how to set and achieve their goals. 

     I am apart of the Positive Adult Leaders in Society (PALS) program. This program is one of five unique programs that focuses on providing exceptional role models for youth between the ages 5 and 15, who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness. During my internship, I will be meeting with my youth once per week, for at least an hour, and for the duration of one year. In addition, my youth and I will be attending monthly workshops that are designed to enhance our bond and coach us through the many learning lessons of life. The most important thing that I will be doing is providing my youth with great experiences outside of their everyday routine, and providing a safe outlet for their new adventures.  

Who am I?

Greetings Everyone!

     My name is Fatemah Bernard, and I have been a student at Arizona State University since 2013. I am finishing my undergraduate program in public policy, and plan continue my education in the masters program. I have not made a final decision on what I want to do with my career, but I have a strong passion for education policy. I hope to make commendable contributions to the public education sector, and plan to conduct research in this field during my masters and PhD programs. 

     Outside of my educational background I am married, have one child (my dog, Angel), and love to cycle. I also do various wood working projects, enjoy cooking, and started the Downtown Policy Assembly organization at ASU. I have always enjoyed working with the community, and am a firm believer in mentorship; this is after I discovered that I did not know everything there is to know in the world. It was through these experiences, that I decided to begin my internship at New Pathways for Youth and become a mentor. During this internship I plan to become a better leader, gain an understanding of the challenges that this non-profit organization faces, and establish the foundation of a life-long bond with my youth.