Can You Hear Me Now? The Challenge of Youth-Adult Connection

ACT for Youth Conference 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Albany, New York

Youth and adults both want to see change in their communities: a healthy environment, an end to violence, opportunities for all...there are so many ways we want to change the world. The problem is that adults and youth don't always have the easiest time working together. We often make assumptions about each other, and rarely get the opportunity to really connect. At "Can You Hear Me Now?," the youth/adult conference sponsored by ACT for Youth, we'll focus on youth today and figure out how we can all reach across the age gap and take action together.

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Save the date! Registration opens in March.

Past Events

Youth Leadership Retreat

In July 2007 ACT for Youth invited youth and adults from every corner of New York State to the Cornell campus. For three days we practiced team building, networking, and leadership development. The 50 young people and 40 adults who participated in the Youth Leadership Retreat are all involved in the ACT for Youth Collaborations for Community Change (CCCs). Together we're all working to bring the principles of positive youth development to our home communities.

The event started with a visit to the Cornell Outdoor Education challenge course. We overcame obstacles together on the low ropes course (like trying to balance everyone on a giant see-saw) and challenged our personal courage on the high ropes course (ever jump out of a 50 foot tower?). It was a great exercise in both teamwork and self-discovery.

Next we had facilitators from Leaders Today and Free the Children guide us through exercises and activities. The goal was to help us build the skills we need to create positive change; active listening, assertive communication, public speaking, and action planning. You've got to have a plan if you want to change the world!

At the training we shared our vision and values, named the issues that affect us most powerfully, and most of all discussed how we can go about making change in our communities. Don't like the amount of garbage your school produces at lunch time? Start building support for reusable trays and a compost program by petitioning in your community. Talk to students, parents, teachers, and school officials. Involve the local media. That's how social movements start, and now we know how to make it happen.

Of course, one thing we need to make that change happen is support from our local communities. Most of all, we need adults who are ready to fully accept youth as partners in decision-making. Fortunately, these communities - and the adults in them - are starting to emerge. All the conference attendees returned to ACT for Youth Communities, where youth-serving organizations are beginning to partner with other community organizations and businesses to adopt the principles of positive youth development. Together with the ACT for Youth Center of Excellence, these CCCs are hoping to make some serious change in the way communities value, cultivate, and utilize the strengths of young people. They're starting to listen to youth voice and share leadership across generations. It's about time!