Editor's Note: In the summer, Chris Brown pleaded guilty for attacking and abusing his then-girlfriend singer and pop icon Rihanna earlier this year. Brown was sentence to 180 days of community labor and briefly spoke about his actions on Larry King Live in August. Yesterday, Rihanna spoke for the first time on Good Morning America. We asked young people to watch a clip of Rihanna's interview and share their reactions on how Rihanna addressed the situation. These contributors are fall interns with YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia.

They Are Both At Fault

...

 I Don't Want the Vaccine

Blog, Valerie Klinker,
Nov 03, 2009

Today I when came into work and got on the computer I came across a story that caught my attention. It was basically an article explaining the H1N1 virus. Well, actually it was talking about people who are at higher risk to catch the swine flu and it states their argument on why we need to get vaccinated.

I already knew about the swine flu being more of a risk for ages 18 to 22 year olds. Which means we are at higher risk to get the H1N1 virus. I think it has something to do with our immune system not being able to fight off the flu on its own, but I didn’t know that it’s also attacking little babies, children, the elderly, people with asthma or women who are pregnant.

...

 Richmond Rape Victim Releases Statement at Vigil

Blog, Eming Piansay,
Nov 04, 2009

Last night at the candle light vigil held in Richmond in support of the 15-year-old student who was brutally gang raped outside of her Homecoming dance, the victim herself released a statement to the public which read by her church pastor.

"We realize people are angry about this. But let the anger cause change, change that is necessary to keep our children, our neighbors and our friends safe."

She also wrote in her statement, “violence is always the wrong choice."

Editor's Note:  The economic downturn has caused a troubling spike in homeless youth: young people spending their nights in shelters, abandoned cars, sometimes finding shelter on a friend's couch, too often literally sleeping on the streets, in parks, under freeway overpasses, and in riverbed encampments across the country. No one knows how many young people live this way because no one really bothers to count them but federal experts estimate that at least 1.6 million juveniles leave or are put out of their homes each year. Other research has found a 40% spike in the number of homeless youth over the past year. Who are these often-invisible young people? What are their lives like, and what do theythink would help them get stable and off the street? This video is a series in a collaboration between YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia/New America Media and the California Research Bureau.

Looks like a victory for San Francisco's undocumented youth won't come without a drawn-out fight in City Hall.

Yesterday, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed a change to the city's sanctuary policy that barred authorities from reporting undocumented minors, arrested on suspicion of felony crimes, to federal immigration agents.

The veto comes just weeks after crowds of people gathered at city hall to celebrate the board's decision to overturn its draconian mandate to report undocumented minors, arrested and charged with felony crimes, to ICE for deportation.

Critics said that the the policy of reporting minors to federal agents unfairly targeted undocumented youth, particularly those who had not yet been convicted of any crimes.

...

Editor's Note: In light of the murder of Oscar Grant earlier this year, and the trial of the BART police officer accused in his murder underway, Oakland residents and activists took to the streets to protest police brutality. Amanze Emenike is a content producer for YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia. Amanze Emenike is a content producer for YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia. 

Oakland Protests Police Brutality from New America Media on Vimeo.

 Young People Process Homecoming Gang Rape  

Commentary and Video, Various Authors//Video: YO! Bloggers and Ann Bassette,
Oct 29, 2009

Editor’s note: The gang rape of a 15-year-old student at Richmond High School has made national headlines, but how are young people processing the incident? While some say they would have tried to stop the assault, others admit that they may not have had the courage to intervene. 

Young Women Need to Protect Themselves

 Printable Version   Young and Jobless -- But the Future Still Beckons YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia

Commentary and Video, Written: Various Authors // Video: Valerie Klinker,
Oct 23, 2009

Editor’s Note: According to the U.S. Labor Department, the number of unemployed youth ages 16 to 24 years is at its highest since World War II at 53.4 percent. We asked young people how they felt about their job prospects in these difficult times. Despite the shrinking pool of job opportunities, young adults are enterprising and pragmatic about what they need, and hopeful about their futures. 

Revolutionize the System

 Nightmare of a Dream Student

Commentary, Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez,
Oct 26, 2009

I’ll refer to her as Leticia X.

She is undocumented, but has been in this country since the age of three and is a top student at her high school. Yet, unless the law changes soon, she will be unable to continue with her studies. She tells my students at the University of Arizona that it is wrong that she will not be able to attend college next year: “I consider myself a U.S. citizen. It’s the only country I’ve ever known.”

Her symbolic mother is Leticia A -- a student who set the legal precedent in 1982 in Plyler v. Doe in Texas, permitting undocumented students to be able to attend public K-12 schools, without having to pay exorbitant out-of-state tuition.

 The Diary of an Howard University RA

Commentary , Pendarvis Harshaw,
Oct 27, 2009

Editor’s Note: This the second entry in a reoccurring series, “Diary of a Resident Assistant at Morehouse University. In this piece, Pendarvis Harshaw shares the trepidation of holding the first floor meeting at Drew Hall and the challenges of deciphering truth from lies among Drew Hall residents.

...