1. Your circle of influence
ENVIRONMENT
Your circle of influence

2. en·vi·ron·ment
The surroundings or conditions in which a person,... lives or operates.
synonym:
habitat, territory, domain;
surroundings

3. Why?
Our beloved, Muhammed (SAW) said in an authentic Hadith: “No one is born except upon natural instinct, then his parents turn him into a Jew or Christian or Magian. As an animals produces their young with perfect limbs, do you see anything defective?”
it makes us who we are
Personality
Behavioral patterns
Mental patterns
pessimistic optimistic

4. Our Circle of Influence
Neighborhood
Family
Peers
School
Community
Social Media

5. It’s Contribution to you?
Identity or lack of
normative behaviors
Values
Ethics
Outlook to life ….
White board: positive negative contribution to you.

6. Our goal as youth workers?
Recognize that the young brother/sister in front of you is dealing with various circles of influence.
Try and make positive connections between them.
Navigate through the negative aspects of them and minimize the harm.
creating positive outlets and opportunities for them to grow & develop.
Be observant: recognize the situations
Between them and their environment
Resources, spent time with them

7. The older you become, the harder it is for you to change
The older you become, the harder it is for you to change. This is why the time of youth is very important. It’s the time of great influence.

8. Family Types of Families? Relationships Development Pressure/stress
In the family
From the family
What is its importance?
core of the society in gereral
White Board: cycle of family.

9. Peers Spend most of your time with
Shared thoughts feelings (common ground)
Forged paths
Experiences
Direction of life
Final destination
Outlook to life.
Ibn Hazm stated: “Anyone who cares about your friendship is willing to criticize you, while those who make light of your faults show they do not care.”
perfume-seller and a blacksmith:
If your family shaped you, then your peers can pull you in different directions

10. Peers cont’d.
“Accept me for who I am, don’t judge me.” The “YOLO” Culture

11. Neighborhoods

12. Neighborhoods Cont’d “burbs” vs “hood” Responsibilities
Security & safety
Ethnic Factors
Economic status
Social networks
Maintained or neglected
Friendship network
recreation
Role expectations
Behavioral practices
Ideologies
Rites of passage.

13. Community Local leaders Family networks The “spots” Imams Teachers
are families connected, is there an actual sense of community?
The “spots”
Gym etc
Park
Community centers

14. Schools

15. Schools

16. Schools Structural features Security Social Process
Outlets, or lack there of
Behavioral practices
Peer pressure
Rites of passage
Clicks/crew etc
Education
Things they learn that are against Islamic Values.
Standards & Quality
Access to a new world
Body image & beauty
Moral compass is challenged
Dating game
Recreational Drugs
Parties
gender relations
mixing
gay
Student-teacher relationship
Assimilation forced to conform
Discrimination & bullying
MUST keep up to date

17. Social Media

18. By the Numbers
72% of teens have a social networking profile and nearly half (47%) have a public profile viewable by anyone.
38% of Facebook users in the last year were under 13 yrs old
22% of teenagers log on to their favorite social media site more than 10 times a day.
59% of teens perceive that public blogs or social networking sites are unsafe
76% of teens are at least somewhat concerned that posting information publicly could negatively impact future.

19. Social Media Human Interaction Dual Personality. Inappropriate content
Scale
text messaging and social media has replaced note-passing, but on a much larger scale.