The AC Podcast

180: Getting Real: Youth, Culture and Racism

In this Episode

Simone Ujah, youth worker, coach and podcaster, joins our host Maisie Barlow, for the first powerful episode of this series. Simone shares her coaching journey that helped her develop a core sense of self and allows her to work with young people with deep authenticity and honesty.

Simone reflects on the challenges of addressing cultural differences and racism, drawing from personal stories, including her children's experiences with racial incidents at school and the gaslighting she subsequently received. Simone talks about the need for conversations and education around unconscious bias and equality, sharing how world events led her to start her Re-education podcast during lockdown. Simone discusses how culturally, respecting each person as an individual experience is key and we need to empower young people rather than support a victim mindset.

You Will Learn

• The importance of authenticity and honesty when working with young people
• The importance of putting young people at the centre of conversations and providing space for exploration and troubleshooting
• The challenges of guiding (not preaching!) young people, with the need to respect their space and earn their respect

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Guest Bio

Simone Ujah is a qualified youth worker, qualified life coach, has a mobile cocktail business, and is mum to two amazing children. She has over 18 years’ experience of working with young people in a variety of environments; she now spends her days delivering coaching workshops to school students, focusing on navigating school life and youth workshops on healthy and unhealthy relationship signs to young people in schools and community organizations.

 

Connect with Simone