New AYJ Podcast launched! ‘The Life of a Top Boy’ episode
The latest episode of AYJ’s podcast series focused on our work around 'Reframing Violence' is a spotlight on the ground-breaking new report The Life of a Top Boy, which centres the perspectives of young Black men about trauma and violence in the community.
We speak with the report’s author Dr Ron Dodzro, Clinical and Community Psychologist, and Winston Goode, founder and CEO of Juvenis, a grassroots organization in Lambeth helping young Londoners to achieve their potential. Plus, we hear from two of the young people who participated in the research for this report, L and J. We discuss policing, money, mental health and - of course - state violence.
The AYJ podcast brings together guests representing our cornerstones of youth voice, research and evidence, and practice expertise, to dig into a range of subjects surrounding children' and young people’s experiences of the youth justice system. We explore what changes could be made in policy and in society as a whole to reimagine justice for children and young people.
In this episode, our guests discuss the background of this research and their involvement in the process, as well as delving deeper into a range of issues that the report highlights, including:
Exploring different perspectives on ‘gangs’ and policing. What is a so-called ‘gang’, and what harm can society’s understanding of them cause? We get talking about violence, policing and prejudice.
Money, and where to put it. We explore the causes of serious violence and so-called ‘gang affiliation’, and the theme of money comes through pretty strongly.
Mental health, family and what support can help. The young men share their experiences of working with Juvenis, and the relationships with the people who they’re close to - we explore how those we love can be sources of both help and harm.
Thank you to Ron, Winston, everyone at Juvenis, and particularly to L and J for their thoughtful contributions. Please check out the full The Life of a Top Boy report that informed this podcast and share with your networks.
Hear more from our guest speakers:
Hear more from Dr Ron Dodzro by following him on X, and find out more about his range of academic and other work here.
Keep updated by following Winston Goode and Juvenis on X, and find out more about all the latest news from Juvenis here.
The AYJ recognises that the term ‘gang’ is problematic and discriminatory for several reasons, and that this label often does not reflect the experiences of young people. This terminology is a focus of the discussions throughout this podcast, to reflect a key hope of the research, to challenge and disrupt the harmful narratives that contextualise the experiences of its participants. Please note that this podcast contains strong language.