Blue Boat of Youth and Young Adult MinistriesWelcoming The Last of the Millennials to Your Church
The Annual Beloit College Mindset List is released for each new entering class as way to acknowledge the differences in worldview (or mindset) of incoming first-years. Originally, it was intended as a way to remind professors to watch their references with students. It continues to serve this purpose and has become a larger pop culture touchstone reminding the public of the worldview of 18 year olds. This year’s list, for the Class of 2021, reminds us that: They are the last class to be born in the 1900s, the last of the Millennials — enter next year, on cue, Generation Z! This is an opportunity for you and your congregation to explore how you might be…
Apply Now to Lead the UU-UNO Spring Seminar
The applications to join the Seminar Staff as a Youth Dean or Adult Dean for the 2018 Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office Intergenerational Spring Seminar are now open and are due August 2nd, 2017! The 2018 Seminar, on the topic of refugees and the global migration crisis, will be April 5-7, 2018 in New York City. Click here to read what the two Youth Deans from the 2017 Intergenerational Spring Seminar wrote about their experience leading the seminar,and get inspired to apply to be a Youth Dean for 2018-19! (Youth Dean is a two-year position—this person will serve as Junior Youth Dean in 2018 and Senior Youth Dean in 2019.)
Reflections after Thrive Young Adult
Kaitlin Dey, Thrive Young Adult alumni 2016 and 2017, shared this reflection at her congregation last Sunday: I spent the last 10 days in New Orleans. I attended Thrive Young Adult. Thrive is part of Grow Racial Justice that is for UU young adults of color, we dove deep into complex questions about identity, power, spirituality and leadership. We got to explore our roles as young adults of color in our UU movement, build relationships with one another around intersecting identities, share practices for healing and resistance, and support each other on the path toward liberation. While I was at Thrive, I began dialogues about the beauty and the flaws of our faith. As the week continued and General Assembly began,…
Make an Impact: Be Dean of Youth Caucus
LEAD YOUR PEERS @ GA Youth Caucus Deans are the leaders of the volunteer Youth Caucus Staff for General Assembly and applications are now open through August 10th. Deans work with the Youth Caucus Staff to fulfill the mission and purpose of Youth Caucus, which is to galvanize the youth of our movement by deepening our collective Unitarian Universalist spirituality and helping youth make an impact on our association through General Assembly. Over the last several months, I have enjoyed my time as Junior Dean. When I first started, I was nervous because I had never experienced leadership on such a large scale, but the idea that I would be working with so many new people in the coming…
Activate Your Social Justice this Summer
Take Their Word for It – You’ll Be So Happy You Did From our friends at the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) – ed. (linkback to original post here) Are you a high school aged youth who is wondering how to engage more fully in social justice work? We at UUCSJ have the program for you this very summer! But don’t take our word for it, hear about Activate Youth Justice Trainings from youth who have not only already participated in one Activate training, but are also choosing to do another this summer! WHO: John Martin Tomlinson PROGRAM: Activate Southwest Borders 2015 and Activate NOLA: Racial Justice and Beloved Community 2017 “I…
Youth Ministry Training Webinar 9
In the April Webinar, Natalie Briscoe, Congregational Life Staff in the Southern Region, and Kim Sweeney, Congregational Life Staff in the New England Region, talked about new models and methods for stellar Youth Ministry that may challenge our assumptions about what ministry to and with Youth can and should be. When asked to sum up the webinar, Briscoe said “In particular we lifted up a vision of whole Unitarian Universalist communities where youth are a part of the entire congregation as well as having youth-specific space for developmentally appropriate stretching. We also explored methods for relationship-centered ministry (rather than program-centered ministry) that builds sustaining, multigenerational connections throughout the congregation. These models both rest on the foundational idea that youth…
Register for General Assembly Now!
Registration for General Assembly 2017 in New Orleans, LA, June 21-25 is in full-swing. It’s not too late to join fellow Unitarian Universalists in worship, learning and action! Learn more here.
ELECTION: 2017 Youth Observers to the UUA BoT
VOTE YOUR CHOICE BY APRIL 10, 2017 Learn about the voting process for the Youth Observer to the Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees here. (Remember, youth vote as a block with their youth group.) Read their candidate statement here. Watch the videos by Aine Hunt and Tanner Linden explaining why they want to be your Youth Observer to the Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees. (The videos appear in alphabetical order.) Access the On-line Ballot here. Or the paper ballot here.
Be a Delegate at GA 2017
Did you know youth who are members of their congregation can represent their congregation at General Assembly by serving as delegates and voting in General Session (aka “Previously Plenary” aka “GenSesh” aka the way we conduct the business of the association)? Talk to your congregation’s leaders as soon as you can to start the process. They may be able to financially support your way to General Assembly. You’re also encouraged to apply for a scholarship because serving as a delegate increases your chance of getting a scholarship. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 31st, so now is the time! Hannah Rigdon, Sr. Business Manager for Youth Caucus has some words of wisdom about the importance of…
Youth Ministry Training Webinar 7
Part of a successful youth ministry is creating and maintaining sustainable systems and organizational tools, like calendaring, directories and templates, to keep the youth ministry program running as a vital part of the congregation and so it can live on after a volunteer or staff member leaves. Adults need to be competent in practicing compassionate communication, handling conflict with grace and humility, expressing needs, and being a good listener. And they need to be able to model these skills for youth. Youth Ministry Advising: A Complete Guide has some tips for developing these skills. Volunteers and staff must be competent with social media. Supervisors should inform volunteers and staff if their congregation has something akin…
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