As 2010 marks the beginning of a new decade, the ATD Youth Initiative is preparing for a dynamic year of growth and transformation. Exciting opportunities are emerging to support the Symposium widely at high schools, colleges, and universities; training programs for Youth Facilitators are being planned in the USA and Belgium; and interest is growing to host Youth Symposiums in countries all around the world. Below are a few recent stories from the field. To learn more, become involved, or share Youth news from your community, visit awakeningthedreamer.org/youth and contact us at youthinitiative@pachamama.org.
Youth Initiative to Meet UN Development Goals
Santa Barbara, CA, US: 60 young women participated in an Awakening the Dreamer Symposium, inspiring them to begin meeting the 8 United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015. The young women, all high school soccer players, raise money for their chosen charity, Girl’s Child Network, supporting young girls in Kenya escape female genital mutilation and childhood marriage. To learn more, contact Gabrielle Sundra.
Symposium Extends Further into Education
Moscow/Pullman, Washington, US: An intergenerational Symposium took place in Washington state including youth educators, Washington State University students and faculty, and Pullman and Moscow community members. The January 9th Symposium was Eastern Washington’s first, inspiring the participants to integrate its message into their own work. As a result, teachers plan to bring the Symposium to students; a community member intends to host the Symposium in a youth school program; and a graduate student from WSU will campaign for the Symposium’s inclusion in the Palouse Asian American Association. Furthermore, facilitator Francene submitted a proposal to deliver the Symposium at the 5th Annual Globalization Conference in Spokane, Washington. To learn more, contact Francene Watson-McBeath.
Youth Integrate Symposium into University
Olympia, Washington, US: Highly creative students of the Wonder Collective hosted an innovative Symposium on January 9th at Evergreen State College. Integration of video footage and information directly relevant to Evergreen's student body kept the Symposium’s message grounded, real, and inspiring. As a result, a network of creative individuals committed to making school-wide changes came together to implement "sustainable, earth-honoring and local-lovin ideas" on campus. In unity with the ATD Youth Initiative, the Wonder Collective is developing supportive tools and organizational strategies for those bringing this work to college and university campuses across the globe. To learn more, contact Monika Tippie.
Generation Waking Up: Changing the Dream of the Modern World
Generation Waking Up: Changing the Dream of the Modern World is now a Youth organization. Generation Waking Up is beginning work on a youth adaptation of the Symposium that will target young people ages 15 – 35 around the world. The adaptation’s purpose is to infuse young voices, stories, and styles into the existing Symposium and to help reach a critical mass of awakened change-makers. If you would like to learn more, volunteer, or support this project, please contact symposium@generationwakingup.org.
Hong Kong Youth Hear the Message
Hong Kong, China: Educators trained as Facilitators have successfully delivered the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium in schools. In one case two students (untrained) beautifully presented the Symposium to their classmates. Facilitator Jo Fok has ambitious plans to spread the Symposium and its message throughout schools in Hong Kong and beyond. Contact Jo Fok.
