Trainings, Youth Summits and Workshops
For more info, please contact YLSN

YLSN maintains an intergenerational network of trainers, workshop facilitators and mentors who serve as primary resources for leadership development, community service, topical issues and life skills. YLSN provides workshops, trainings, festivals and designs seminars for local groups and groups visiting Washington DC on a wide variety of topics including:

Leadership Skills ~~ Mural and Banner Painting ~~ Peace Parade Preparations ~~ Media Skills ~~ Intercultural Coalition-Building ~~ Faith and Spirituality ~~ Violence Prevention ~~ Team-Building and Group Process ~~ Countering White Supremacy/Hate Crimes Prevention ~~ Strategic Planning and Evaluation ~~ Unity, Racism and Diversity ~~ Sexuality, Homophobia and Identity ~~ History ~~ Paul Robeson, Voice of the People ~~ Community Organizing ~~ Public and Media Relations ~~ Network Building ~~ Conference and Festival Planning ~~ Collaborative Performance Production Skills ~~ Critical Issues

Workshops and seminars have been requested by DC area public and private schools and universities and diverse programs, including:

Together these groups serve youth from throughout greater Washington DC and include some of the most dedicated and talented youth workers anywhere.

SUMMITS

YLSN sponsored summits, workshops and trainings explore the "how's" of movement building and community empowerment. Summits combine partnerships, discussions, multi-media resources and performances to nourish activism and networks.

YLSN creates safe neutral space for people from diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to meet each other to share talents, strategies and aspirations drawing from past and present experiences of youth activism.

In February of 2003 YLSN sponsored “Youth Activism Summit: Music, Media, Movements & Mentors at Cada Vez Restaurant and Conference Center. Over 200 people participated in a program including music, workshops, networking and strategy discussions. Co-Sponsors included Digital Sisters Inc., Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, Midnight Forum DC Metro Youth Program, African Immigrants and Refugees Foundation, National Youth Rights Association, Young Hispanic Democrats,Washington Peace Center, WPFW 89.3FM Radio Coop, DC Independent Media Center,Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc ~ Phi Sigma Chapter ~ Rhoers Club.

Youth Activism Summit Participants received messages of support and encouragement for their leadership from Senator John Kerry, Senator Edward Kennedy, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, DC Councilmember Adrian Fenty, New York City Youth Bloc High School Peace & Justice Coalition, International Youth Coordination Council -- Nepal, Human Rights Education Radio Listener Club -- Nepal, Youth Development Foundation -- Pakistan, Synergy -- Ghana, Africa Youth Peace Call – Ghana, Ebenezer Youth of Namibia, Nelson & District Youth Centre/Nelson, British Columbia and youth groups that include performing arts programs and have expressed desire to develop partnerships from Spain, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Australia, England, Germany, Ghana, El Salvador, Somalia, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, Scotland, Canada, Sierra Leone, Russia, and several others.

In February of 2001, the YLSN sponsored "Study and Struggle: Intergenerational Youth Activist Summit, Celebrating 41 Years and 3 Generations of Youth Movements," at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington, DC. Over 200 people attended the day and a half event, including 11 cultural performances, primarily youth from the DC Metro area. Out-of-town guests included activists from Mississippi, San Francisco, New York City and Quebec -- bringing their perspectives and experiences to support youth activism in Washington, DC. Equally important was the on-line dialogues with dozens of youth groups in the DC area and youth activists from around the USA and Germany, Northern Ireland, Wales, Moscow, Sierra Leone, Bosnia and elsewhere, creating a broad discussion on the themes of the summit.

In May 1999, YLSN participated in a mentorship role with young organizers who planned a Youth Action Institute that brought over 300 teens from throughout Washington, DC together in a day of workshops and dialogues. The YLSN led a workshop for over 30 teens at the Institute on using video to tell your stories, and additionally videotaped and photographed the Institute.

DC Youth Voices: Around the Block and Around the World

YLSN involves local youth with national and international conferences, summits and events. 

Great Labor Arts Exchange: Every June, YLSN facilitates youth participation, workshops and performance at the Great Labor Arts Exchange, sponsored by Labor Heritage Foundation. Arts-Activists that work with working people’s culture and organizing gather for three days of song-swaps, artistic workshops and performance. If you are interested in attending, please contact us!

In 2004, 19-year-old staff member Sheila Mirza provided the opening address at the United Nations International Day of Peace Parade held in Washington DC and broadcast in over 100 countries. Sheila was also a featured performer at Sisterfire DC: Women of Color Against Violence conference and Mobilizing America’s Youth rally on the National Mall, with YLSN volunteer Cherie Latson performing NYC and DC Sept 11 spoken word tributes.

Also in 2004, YLSN hosted the National Education Association Peace and Justice Caucus preconference entitled “Education not Incarceration,” and included youth from several DC organizations in creating proposals on the issue for the NEA convention. Participants then attended and recorded a speech by Angela Davis at the convention, where they received recognition and applause from the delegates.

Youth Leadership Support Network
PO Box 5372 | Takoma Park, MD 20913 | 202.316.4403

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