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Youth Leadership Institute Tackles Oppression, Advocacy
July 18, 2008
by Bradley Osborn
Summer camps run the gamut from football to church, computer to band. Harmony’s weeklong Youth Leadership Institute camp is like no other.
YLI teaches young people unity through diversity, recognizes and values differences and directs YLI campers, called delegates, to effect change for a better future. Stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, racism, sexism, heterosexism and classism are some of the “-isms” of discord addressed during the week.
The Institute is the successor to the National Conference for Community and Justice’s Anytown, a highly valuable, decades-old summer camp. Harmony, a local nonprofit founded in 1988 and dedicated to building inclusive communities and organizational structures, picked up the reins for Anytown when the local NCCJ chapter merged into it in 2005. Anytown became YLI.
Harmony put on two Institutes this summer: a late June session at Rockhurst University and an early July session at William Jewell College. YLI resembles other camps in certain ways – sleeping away from home, taking communal meals and enjoying physical recreation – but it is mostly a series of issue explorations in small and large groups, role-playing scenarios and learning exercises and presentations that shed light on such topics as prejudice, ethnic and racial identities, varied physical abilities, socioeconomic disparities and gender and sexual orientation.
Tackling oppression of all sorts and from many sources, the Youth Leadership Institute is a safe place to explore these issues and others, such as religious and cultural diversity. Students can learn leadership for developing more inclusive schools, workplaces and communities.
“My motivation comes from wanting to make a difference
in the world and in the lives of the leaders of tomorrow.
Youth Leadership Institute provides me with the opportunity to impact lives, and have a positive influence on the future.”
– Keo Crockett, YLI counselor
Teens can unlearn prejudices and biases, reduce internalized oppression and work to stop collusion with society’s prevailing stereotypes. Bigotry can lead to bullying, verbal abuse and violence. YLI youth gain skills and knowledge that are not often part of a routine classroom curriculum.
The Institute creates a safe space that allows honest communication. Learning about one’s self allows for personal growth and a broader cultural awareness. Delegates can begin to think in different ways about people, gain skills in conflict resolution, awareness, and advocacy, and make new friendships with people of diverse backgrounds that can prepare them to help create a more inclusive world.
“I went through the process and became emotionally raw.
And truly for the first time I was allowed to be transparent,
and see it was OK to be me, and that I am powerful and
that my words are heard even though I am young…”
– Colin Daniels, former YLI delegate
In 2002, the Kansas City chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice integrated LGBT education into its residential Anytown Leadership Institute (the precursor to YLI). Walter T. Boulden, UMKC assistant professor and director of the School of Social Work, evaluated delegate attitudes over a three-year period and found that there was “statistically significant positive change in respondents’ self-ratings of knowledge and attitudes.”
“I was so motivated and grateful for the experience I worked a summer job to pay for a full week experience. I did not want a scholarship because I did not want to take what I did not need. … It was a great experience, and I have been back ever since.”
– Jessica Robinson,former YLI delegate, current YLI staff member and high school science
The increasing diversity in the United States and the recognition that a broad, beautiful world of humanity exists beyond this country create challenges and present opportunities. Many area youth are familiar with Harmony’s other in-school programs. Unitown engages high school students. And preteens can attend Manytown.
Harmony also offers its Campus Leadership Institute for college-level students, and the organization advises nonprofits, government and community agencies as well as corporate entities on the values of diverse working environments. One of the best ways to foment cultural harmony is to instill respect for difference by creating agents allied for change at all levels of society.
Harmony
4901 Main St., Suite 300
Kansas City, Mo. 64112
816-333-5059 | kcharmony.org
youtube.com/watch?v=aNqW4glqWt8
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