Youth Engagement Mini-Plenary Sessions and Workshops* “Nothing About Us, Without Us!” The Powerful Voices of Foster Care Alumni Wednesday, July 25 1:30 – 3:00
Jetaine Hart, Educational Mentor for Foster Youth, Alameda County Office of Education Marie Ary, California Youth Connection Timothy Bell, Passion to Action, FosterClub Octavia Fugerson, Jim Casey Initiative Young Fellow Sixto Cancel, A Voice to Be Heard Marcella Middleton, Sayso, Foster Club All Star 2012 Alexander McFarland, Ohio Youth Advisory Board Foster care alumni are joining together to raise their voices across the country for change for their brothers and sisters still in care. Learn about their efforts to link youths in care with siblings, find permanent families, pursue higher education, and transition successfully to adulthood.
CDF's Ladder of Youth Leadership: Building a Critical Mass of Next Generation Leaders Monday, July 23 3:30 – 5:00 Strengthening their Voice: Community Models of Youth Engagement
Crystal Mattison, Development Associate, Bennett College David Poms, Agency Achievement Academy Coordinator, Capital Area Food Bank Itang Young, Class of 2012, Union Theological Seminar CDF will train 5,000 new young leaders of color, half Black males, over the next five years to catalyze a transformational, intergenerational movement to change the odds for all children. This session will highlight CDF’s youth leadership development training programs and alumni who are working for change in their communities. Albert Sykes, Young People's Project Frank McGhee, Neighborhood Service Organization (Detroit) Michael Tubbs, Community Involvement Program Coordinator, University of the Pacific Romanita Hairston, Vice President of U.S. Programs, World Vision Ty-Licia Hooker, Class of 2012, University of the Pacific
Tuesday, July 24 4:30 – 6:00 Young people are often left out of organizing efforts to challenge the systems that directly affect their lives. This session will showcase successful youth engagement programs from around the nation that are building courage among young people to challenge injustice and make a difference in their communities. Operation Respect Monday, July 23 1:30 – 3:00
Peter Yarrow, Peter, Paul & Mary, Founder and President, Operation Respect
Operation Respect promotes the infusion of character education and social and emotional learning principles into school curricula. Toward this end, Operation Respect created and disseminates the "Don't Laugh at Me" (DLAM) Program. This workshop will provide participants with tools to assure each child and youth a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning where their academic, social and emotional development can take place free of bullying, ridicule and violence.
*Along with these mini-plenary sessions and workshops, intensive and specialized training will be provided to 1,500 young servant leaders invited to join a separate Young Advocate Leadership Training (YALT) track.
25 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
p (202) 628-8787
f (202) 662-3510
www.childrensdefense.org