Dana Fusco
Location: New York, USA
Biography
I have been working in the youth work field since 1987 first as
a youth worker, then as a consultant to youth programs, researcher, and
more currently, youth work educator. I hold a doctorate degree in
Educational Psychology. I am an Associate Professor in Teacher
Education, and am currently serving as the Acting Dean for the School of
Health & Behavioral Sciences at CUNY York College in Queens, NY where I
have been since 1999. I continue to be a mentor to many young women whom
I have met over the years and enjoy studying and writing on matters
close to my heart. In 2004, I wrote and produced a video-documentary,
When School Is Not Enough, looking at the developmental
opportunities provided in out-of-school environments. Currently, I am
editing a volume with colleagues from across the globe entitled
Advancing Youth Work: Current Trends, Critical Questions (to appear
in Summer 2011, Routledge).
How I came to be in this field
I was an undergraduate student in Psychology and enrolled in a
summer course where we working at a summer camp for
“emotionally-disturbed children” (that was the language used in the
80’s). I knew at that point I wanted to work with kids. After graduation
I landed a job coordinating a dropout prevention program and worked with
“at-risk” kids. I loved my job but couldn’t make ends meet so I went to
graduate school and earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. I worked
in several afterschool programs as a consultant and then was hired by
York College in 1999, where I have been ever since.
A favorite saying
How many faculty members does it take to change a
light bulb?
Response: “Change?”
A few thoughts about child and youth care
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Our kids need us.
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We must get smarter about articulating the work we do and why it is critical.
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We need practitioners to consider themselves scholars of the future.
Last thing I read, watched, heard, which I would recommend to
others
Alice in Wonderland
A favorite Child and Youth Care experience
I was working with a group of ‘tweens’ in the
South Bronx. We had been designing a community garden. They were working
on bringing in expert green thumbs, landscape and lighting designers,
architects and the like to help with the design. After a couple of
months of putting up with ‘under the table’ gang signals, I said, “How
come we don’t have a signal?” They said “First we need a name.” “What is
it?,” I asked. “REAL!” said one boy. “Yeah”, said the others. “REAL,
‘cause this ain’t like what we do in school; it’s REAL.” I went home
happy that day.
A few thoughts for those starting out
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Remember to play.
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You don’t need to know all the answers. What you need is a questioning-stance.
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Develop a support network.
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