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Blog - Amplify your voice

by:  E_LOVES_U
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 11:42:00 PM EST

Starting the morning off at 9AM after a long night chatting with the NGLTF staff took its toll as I rushed to make my first workshop on time.

The Youth of Color Organizing Summit put on by FIERCE, was fierce. There were about 40 youth of color who come from so many different walks of life with just one goal. How to better organize ourselves and our peers. The amount of energy in that room was AMAZING. I love being surrounded by so many like-minded, brilliant, youth. They each shared so much about themselves and the work they day. It was great to have youth opening up so much about the folks they work with and the issues that they may be facing.

I was in a very small set of youth that work within organizations that practice equitable youth adult partnerships and authentic youth voice. Makes me love my city of PDX all that much more.

Topics covered included, systems of oppression, types of discrimination, building your (membership) base, organizational structuring and even got to learn a little more about FIERCE (an organization that was created for and by youth) that made me reflect back to my organizations at home. I felt at home with all of these youth and it was very easy to share what we do to deal with issues as they arise.

Near the end we split up into 4 groups to talk about specific issues youth were having in their organizations. Building membership base, including allies, youth adult partnerships, retention/aging out of members. These topics built off of the training we had taken earlier on scripting recruitment and starting a campaign. We used a lot of real life examples and how to strategically win a campaign lead by youth.

I think my biggest take home today revolved around the fact that most youth still don’t understand the power the hold in an organization. That by the mere fact that we are the service recipients we control the power and should advise our organizations about the needs we have. It is important to note that although we suffer many forms of oppression, we have a unique ability and power to overcome any obstacle we face.

Can’t wait for what day two will hold.

P.S. I started a Twitter Account recently and am having a hard time figuring out all the @ and #’s and where they go/what they do, so if you have advice please share.

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Comments
What a great time that it seems to be your having. All of that positive energy buzzing around must be like a drug. It's so addicting to be surrounded by so many amazing youth all with the same struggles. To create changes within their communities and organizations. Make sure you capitalize on it and take the time to really find out what it is that makes people tick i.e. what it is that makes them want to "create change". Who know you may be reinspired. Can't wait for the next days blog. I don't know if you got this on my FB status update but I think it would be a good thing to remember for the duration of this conference. Maybe it can be a motto if not for you then to share with others

"Inspire yourself. We get so caught up in what we have to do that sometimes we forget what we love to do. Inspire yourself and find the beauty in what you do. Life only happens when you want it to. Instead of doing it, live it."

Besos y Abrazos,
Joshua


# Posted By Jman88 | 2/4/10 12:47 AM | Report | Reply
That sounds wonderful! I'm glad you're able to be there!
# Posted By Mahayana | 2/4/10 12:51 AM | Report | Reply
It sounds like you're having an amazing time! It must be empowering to meet so many different people from so many different walks of life -- especially when you all share the goal of making change in your own communities. Definitely keep us posted!

@E_LOVES_U If you have any questions regarding Twitter, feel free to get in touch. My email address is nikki [-at-] advocatesforyouth.org. Also, here's a good "Getting Started on Twitter" guide: http://socialhat.com/twitter-a-quick-getting-started-guide

# Posted By AFY_Nikki | 2/4/10 09:52 AM | Report | Reply