EVENT: Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute 2020

Multiple Sessions to be held on July 8th, July 23rd, and Monday-Thursday August 10-14

Join us for the sixth annual Youth Igniting Change Institute (YIC) for rising 9th-12th graders. In order to keep our participants safe from the spread of the Corona Virus and to better respond to the immediate needs of our community, YIC will host an outdoor physically-distanced event as well as a series of synchronous online sessions addressing current issues, the generation gap, and cycles of trauma and violence. Participants will have the ability to attend six unique 90-120 minute sessions. Participants may attend any number of sessions, most of which will not build on one another. The conversation specific to Black Lives Matter and youth/police relations will be held in two sessions. To ensure safety you will receive a password for each virtual session. All participants must register in order to receive login information. Please indicate on the registration form which sessions you would like to attend

We hope you will join us for this engaging leadership opportunity!

*All participants must wear face masks during in-person events and will maintain six feet of distance between participants. Face masks will be provided for those who do not have them*

July 8th, 2020: 2:00pm-4:00pm- In Person, Ralph Sampson Park, Shelter 1
Black Lives Matter and Youth/Police Relations: Part 1
Join us for this educational and action-oriented event on the Black Lives Matter movement as well as issues related to youth and policing in local schools. 

July 23rd, 2020 2:00pm-3:30 - Virtual Session
Black Lives Matter and Youth/Police Relations: Part 2
In this follow up session, participants will learn from other organizers in the Black Lives Matter Movement and learn skills to organize in their community for equality and justice.

August 10th, 2:00pm-3:30pm - Virtual Session
LGBTQIA Identity and Activism Through the Generations
Take a journey through the history of LGBTQ activism and identity. Participants will explore how past LGBTQ movements have shaped today’s LGBTQ rights movement and identity.

August 11th, 2:00pm-3:30pm - Virtual Session
Generational Trauma and Cycles of Violence
Participants will learn how cultural and collective trauma lives in bodies and moves through generations. This lens will focus on race and racism as a generational harm while engaging ways our current generation can interrupt cycles of violence.

August 12th, 2:00pm-3:30pm - Virtual Session
Communication and Empathy
Participants will practice non-violent communication and work their empathy muscles. Participants will gain skills in how to communicate accurately what they want, without judging themselves or others. 

August 13th, 2:00pm-3:00pm - Virtual Session
Mental Health First Aid and Self Care
Participants will gain skills on how best to respond to others who are in acute stress as well as strategies for coping and healing during times of stress and crises. 

Youth Igniting Change is FREE for participants. 
To register, please fill out the participation form at the link below: 
https://forms.gle/eDE1iPZQfDBB2wAd8

Contact Josh Diamond for further questions at diamonjn@jmu.edu or 540-421-2265

*Note*
As our collective response to COVID changes and infections rise or fall, YIC may hold some in-person sessions during the week of August 10th-14th. Registered participants will be alerted of any opportunities.