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i work in a service organization called YRUU, or "Young Religious Unitarian Universalists," which is the Unitarian Universalist youth movement in North America. this faith-based organization is primarily youth-led, working under the highly effective model of youth empowerment. YRUU is focused on youth leadership, environmental and social awareness, spiritual development, social justice, and very easily a hundred other things.
when i say "the kids these days..." i mean it as a compliment. the youth i have worked with are simply amazing! they've let me into their lives; they've shared their stories, laughter, and tears; and every day they help break down stereotypes of "rowdy teenagers" and "oppressive adults" and all the social implications that those stereotypes accompany. they've shown me that i've become the kind of person that i needed around when i was their age.
i recently finished my second term as "Adult-at-Large," an elected position on the District Youth Steering Committee (DYSC) in the Mass Bay District (MBD), which includes the 55 congregations in and around Boston, Massachusetts. DYSC is the committee charged with the responsibility of organizing and effectively running youth conferences in the district.
in the past, i served as a chaplain at MassiveCon 2005 and was on the worship committee at the 2004 Continental Conference (ConCon '04). until June, 2005, i worked as a youth group director and advisor at a Unitarian Universalist church in Milton, Massachusetts, just south of Boston.
the following is from the Youth Advisor's Handbook (©1996 UUA), by Shell Tain. i agree with every point, and like it enough to share it here:
those of us involved with YRUU try to accomplish and create many things for youth. here are some goals listed by a group of UU youth and advisors during a Pacific Central District (PCD) meeting:
- an opportunity for youth to experience their own power
- an opportunity for youth to congregate freely and explore ideas
- to feel fully loved and accepted by other youth and advisors
- a confidential and safe place
- an alternative to restrictions of home and school
- religious, personal, and artistic expression in a non-judgemental environment
- a place to deal with gender issues, where roles are up for grabs
- a way to recognize youth's involvement in the denomination
- provides a form to experience religion and religious identity
- support for leadership abilities and opportunity to build leadership skills
- a place for youth to be able to say who they are
- community building
- a resource for religious and philosophical ideas
- a unique forum for self-expression and selfdiscovery
- a ministry to liberal youth
- a place to share laughter and tears
- outreach outside of the denomination
- a place where all can express different opinions
- a place where all can be genuine
YRUU is all these things and more; it can be anything participants wish to make it. the potential for what YRUU can become lies in the creativity, motivation, and hard work of its participants."
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