Durriyyah Kemp is a Youth Development Educator for University of Illinois Extension in the Northeast Region.

Durriyyah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science focusing on Community Relations from Michigan State University. She earned a Master of Science degree in Community Services from the Department of Family & Child Ecology also at Michigan State University.

Prior to becoming an Extension Educator in December 2006, Durriyyah was a Foster Care/Child Protection Specialist for the State of Michigan Department of Human Services. Prior to that appointment, Durriyyah was an Urban Program Coordinator for the Scoutreach (Urban Outreach Programs) Division of Boy Scouts of America.

Durriyyah is a member of the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education, Heartland Alliance Teen Poverty & Youth Development Project Advisory Group, Metropolitan Board of Young Professionals, Chicago Urban League, National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, National Association for Self-Esteem, Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention, and the SisterGirls Mentoring Ministry (a mentoring program for girls in 5th - 8th grades).

Teen Dating Violence Workshop

Teaching youth to recognize the warning signs of relationship abuse and develop skills for healthy relationships can help to stop the cycle of violence that in so many ways threatens the physical and emotional health of today's young people, tomorrow's adults and our society in general. Dating violence crosses all lines of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, economic status, geography and sexual orientation. This workshop will assist youth with:

• Identifying the healthy and unhealthy characteristics of relationships
• Understanding the dynamics of emotional, physical and sexual abuse in intimate relationships
• Exploring and clarifying their own values, beliefs and attitudes about gender roles and relationships
• Becoming empowered to make positive, healthy decisions about their own intimate relationships

Audience: Teens/ Adults

Love U2: Relationship Smarts

Teen relationships can be an important part of learning about love- filled with as much joy and fun as doubts and confusion. Relationship Smarts Plus is a lively 13-lesson research-based program that incorporates hands-on activities to focus on skills and knowledge necessary for healthy dating relationships. The curriculum offers guidance on navigating the world of teen relationships. It includes lessons on self-awareness, gauging the health and safety of a relationship, and how to avoid high-cost consequences. The activities are fun, informative and upbeat.

Audience: Teens/ Young Adults

Social & Emotional Learning: The Foundation to Student Success in School, Work and Life

This presentation will give an overview of Social & Emotional Learning, how it connects to the academic mission of schools and why it provides the foundation for students' lifelong success.

Audience: Adults

Exploring African American Culture

This curriculum is designed to help youth explore African American culture. The activities are intended for use with youth from all backgrounds and cultures. Through information, illustrations, and fun activities, youth are challenged to explore African American culture in the following areas: skin and hair, language, arts and crafts, cuisine, music, poetry, holidays and notable African Americans.

Audience: Youth/Adults

Take a Stand: Bullying Prevention

Bullying Prevention is a practical presentation designed to educate youth and adult audiences about bullying by showing what it looks like and how to manage it. It encourages school-wide initiatives addressing bullying as well as encouraging youth to stand up and speak out against it. The program provides useful, research based strategies for intervention.

Audience: Youth/Adults

Self-Exploration Workshop

This six-session workshop educates urban youth on building positive self-esteem and making healthy choices. Youth explore their self-esteem as it relates to topics that influence their everyday lives. Fun activities and discussion surround the primary influential components of youth self-esteem, including personal self-esteem, peer acceptance, social self-esteem, academic self-esteem, goal-setting and decision making.

Audience: Youth ages 12 and up

Girl Talk: Relational Aggression

Gossip, rumors, cliques, mean girls, cyber bullying... sound familiar? Girl Talk is a creative, innovative hands-on approach to increase awareness of relational aggression and emotional development. It provides strategies to prevent and address relational aggression as well as encourage empathy and tolerance and decrease violence in girls. It can be used to empower youth who have been victimized by this type of bullying.

Audience: Female Youth/ Adults

Battling Body Image Blues

"I'm on a diet. I am so ugly! I hate my nose! I will never get a date!" Are these phrases flooding your homes or school hallways? Body image disturbances among today's youth are widespread, contagious, and toxic. Negative self-image issues often lead to other problems that carry into adulthood and are difficult to treat. This solution-focused session will provide educators and parents with an in-depth understanding of body image and issues associated with body image disturbances, and resources to empower both male and female students to build a healthier body image.

Audience: Adults

EntrepreneurShip Investigation (ESI)

Entrepreneurship Investigation (ESI) is an exciting, interactive, and comprehensive curriculum project designed for youth, ages 10-19. ESI uses a variety of tools to help participants develop their entrepreneurial skills and find their business niche. Through exciting activities, case studies and current technology, participants are transformed into budding entrepreneurs!

Audience: Pre-teens/Teens

Financial Fitness for Life

The Financial Fitness for Life (Grades 9-12) curriculum consists of a series of lessons that assist high school students in making better decisions for earning income, spending, saving, borrowing, investing and managing their money.

Audience: Teens/Adults

... and much more!

Please contact Durriyyah Kemp for additional information and scheduling.