Reading about the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center’s Post-D Program was enlightening because I learned about the different services offered to those in the program. It also discussed how there are certain criteria a person must meet to be in the program, and the approval process they must undergo. The video about the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Facility provided even more information about juvenile incarceration. Watching it made me realize the cold hard reality of being incarcerated at a young age. Everything in your day is structured, and staying connected with family is so difficult because Bon Air is the only juvenile facility in Virginia, so the commutes are often far. I found it atrocious that there is only one juvenile facility in Virginia, so I was happy to find out that some people are advocating for a new one to be built in eastern Virginia. 

As for the reflections on the class syllabus and Endeavor values, I found myself thinking about my progress so far in this class and program. In terms of the class goals, I think I have made some progress on communicating orally. In high school, I often didn’t raise my hand to speak because I was afraid of being judged if I said something I perceived as unintelligent. In this class, however, I am more comfortable with expressing my ideas because it feels like a safe space to say things and move the conversation forward. Also, I have started to become aware of narratives that drive society, specifically, stereotypes about incarcerated people. From the texts we have read and the conversations we heard from our lunch visit, I have been able to debunk negative stereotypes that permeate society in relation to incarceration. For the Endeavor goals, I think I’ve made progress on ethical understanding because I’ve started to realize that my ideas and actions have ethical consequences on the people around me, so I have to be mindful about this.

Lastly, I haven’t thought much about my learning philosophy statement before. If I were to narrow it down into a sentence, I’d say that I value finding meaning in what you learn. If you try to memorize information just to regurgitate it during an exam and forget about it later, that’s not learning to me. I like thinking about how my learning relates to my own life and the world around me.

Question for McConnell: How do correctional facilities prioritize connecting youth with their families and communities?