Youth Advisor Training South Church A Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Opening Worship Chalice Lighting Song: “Come Come, Whoever You Are.” #188 The Gift of Faith by Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar Silent Reflection Group Sharing Closing Prayer

Covenant Creation What is a Covenant?

“A covenant is a promise of how we will journey together”

Covenants in Unitarian Universalism Covenants hold special meaning for us as Unitarian Universalists because we are a covenantal faith tradition - our congregations have created a covenant to be in relationship with one another and to affirm and promote our UU principles and purposes. A covenant is an important thing for a youth group to create and hold itself to. In times or crisis or rule infractions, members of the group can call each other back to the covenant.

Some Examples: Use “I” statements Be clear about confidentiality Step up and step back Assume good intentions One person talk at time Respect

Check-In and Introductions High/Low What brought you to this training? Or- what do you hope to get out of this training?

Defining the Role of Youth Advisor The “Model Youth Advisor” Activity Normal Adolescent Development Friendship vs. Advisorship

Youth Advisors are Not Friends It is ok for youth to think of adults as friends. But it is dangerous when adults think of youth as friends. Your role is to hold boundaries. Help youth answer their own question (hold the line of not sharing) “We are the responsible adults”

What do you do if you are in a dual role? Be more stringent than anyone else Your job is to hold boundaries, the youths’ job is to challenge them. So don’t give in to it! EFAB: Empowerment, Freedom, Accountability, and Boundaries (more on this later…) “ This is a challenge for you and for the youth!”

Stages of Group Development Denny Rydberg’s model for building community

Building Community in Youth Groups “Awesome Activity Exercise” Review of Denny Rydberg’s Five Steps See Handout Deep Fun

Welcoming Freshman Let’s Brainstorm!!

Unpacking Ritual What are you hoping for? What would be meaningful? What is the youth groups’ identity? Who is a member, and what does membership mean? Is youth group a drop-in center? Or the same week to week All roads lead to relationships!

Youth Empowerment Skit: Planning a Youth Group Meeting! Fostering Youth Leadership Creating Meaningful Class time

Processing the Skit Reactions? Who was the adult? The youth? What does youth empowerment mean? What does it look like at South Church?

Youth Empowerment is an Ideal And sometimes it’s hard to make it into reality. However, given our Unitarian Universalist belief in the inherent worth and dignity of each person, and our belief that every person should have a say in deciding questions that concern them, in order to be true to our beliefs, we must work to make youth empowerment a reality. From the 1997 Youth Program Review Committee: “At its core, the Unitarian Universalist youth programming philosophy advocates the empowerment through leadership opportunities.…This goal necessitates a delicate balance between youth and adult power that seeks to give youth as much responsibility as possible for creating and carrying out programs while also expecting adults to ensure a safe environment for the youth and protect them from the large-scale failures.”

“ Youth empowerment = Youth leadership + Adult support.”

How to foster youth leadership and create meaningful class time EFAB: Empowerment, Freedom, Accountability, and Boundaries Youth are learning how to succeed. Give them freedom to make decisions, but hold them accountable to community and follow-through. Maintain boundaries!

Do’s and Dont’s Don’t just hand over the leadership to youth Do help them succeed Do create a YAC (or start with a YAT) Do develop youth for leadership Do meet with youth in between Sunday mornings Do teach the youth how to set and run an agenda Do offer youth life skills Such as…classes to teach youth how to facilitate meetings, etc.

How do you structure your meetings? Consider creating a meeting skeleton Ingathering, worship, activity, discussion (consistent skeleton and change the content)

The 6 Components of a Balanced Youth Program See handout (Not so) hidden agenda: being a youth advisor is more than just showing up on Sunday mornings. Youth Advisors are responsible adults whose allegiance is to safety and positive growth. You may not get an immediate positive feeling, but the pay off is in the long run.

Parking Lot and Remaining Q&A

Closing Worship Opening Song Joys and Sorrows Closing Words