ENGAGE 2015: A Conference for Youth Professionals

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1 Workshops #1 10:35-11:50am Title: Single-Tasking: An Introduction to Mindfulness practice Presenter: Sarah Mello Description: Remember when multi-tasking was all the rage? New research suggests that dividing our focus is increasing our stress and decreasing our physical and mental health. Through discussion and experiential exercises designed to help participants tune in to their senses, attendees will learn how to harness the present to reduce anxiety, stress and depression. As a result of this session, participants will know: What current research tells us about the benefits of mindfulness and awareness practice; Will be able to: Incorporate techniques of awareness, breathing and meditation into daily life and to apply what they learned to their work by: Being more present in the relationships they have; share techniques for stress and anxiety reduction with others. Location: Franklin 1 & 2 Title: What now? The World! Using the tools in your pocket to spark youth engagement & activism Presenter: Sannii Crespina-Flores Description: This session is designed to engage the participants as global citizens using technology to actively advocate for social justice and other issues that directly affect their communities. The proposed activities consist of group discussion on media portrayals of other countries, discussion of how social media can be used to give a more human perspective and demonstration of how a viral campaign can be effective in using technology for bring people together to affect change. As a result of this session, participants will know: how to create a viral campaign using work created on apps and the use of social media platforms. As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Place media on multiple social platforms and engage agencies that foster global awareness. As a result of this session participant will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Participants will be able to apply what they learn to their work by integrating this social context into their everyday use of social media. Location: Garden 2 Title: College & Career Coaching Increasing Student Confidence through Theater of the Oppressed Techniques Presenter: Melissa A. Rowe Description: Participants will engage in a series of activities and exercises, based on the work of Augusto Boal s Theater of The Oppressed. The session will focus on actively coaching students to increase confidence around key tasks and opportunities for their success as they move towards college and career. Participants will leave knowing how to facilitate these exercises with their youth and receive an accompanying activity kit. As a result of this session, participants will know: How to engage youth as active participants in their college and career prep sessions/programs; they will be able to: Help young people think through and practice decision making in challenging situations they will find as they enter the world of college & career. And participants will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Replicating exercises and facilitating active coaching sessions, using their own experiences and the activity kit as a resource. Location: Garden 3 Title: 40 Apps in 70 minutes! Presenter: Sherri Hope Culver

2 Description: This is a high energy and interactive presentation introducing a wide range of apps and online activities perfect for the classroom. The session will provide an overview of each app or online activity, show the basics of how to use it, and suggest ways to integrate it into numerous classroom activities and subject areas. The goal of the session is one of breadth not depth. This presentation will send attendees away with a list of at least 40 apps and online activities they can use immediately since they will see them in action. Attendees will: 1. Learn about 40 specific new apps to use in the classroom. 2. Gain an understanding of the best ways to use the apps. And 3. Become more comfortable with the quirks and joys of app activities so they'll actually give them a try in their classrooms and work with young people. Location: Haas Workshops #1 10:35-11:50am CONTINUED Title: Teens, Technology and Your Program: Some Social & Legal Implications Presenters: Riya Saha Shah, Esquire and Jennifer Lutz, Esquire Description: What are your responsibilities if youth in your programs are engaged in cyber bullying? What do you do if teens are sexting or otherwise sending sexually explicit material to one another, especially in light of the recent criminalization of these activities for minors? For a discussion of these and other technology related issues, please join legal representatives from the Juvenile Law Center and the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Get your questions answered, find out what the law says and learn what strategies your peers are using in their programs to address these matters. Location: Ullyot Workshops #2 12:35-1:50pm Title: Employer Engagement: Sending an Effective Message to Employers about Young People as Job Candidates Presenter: Amy Landesman Description: Finding and keeping a job is necessary to realize successful independence but realizing this opportunity can present daunting barriers for youth. Although many youth find employment on their own, just as many depend on the partnerships workforce programs have developed with employers in the community. This workshop will show participants how to strengthen their skills in developing relationships with potential employers, including sales and marketing strategies, understanding employer needs, representing young job seekers, making the pitch, and developing strong approaches to engage employers. Workshop Objectives: Participants will learn business-driven language to better approach employers; Participants will learn effective pitch strategies to approach employers; and 3. Participants will learn language to represent their population utilizing a strengths-based approach. 2

3 Location: Franklin 1 & 2 Title: Passionate Conversations If you missed the Coffee Chats on Thursday, you can join one today Presenter: Various facilitators Description: Location: Garden 2 Title: Digital On-Ramps Presenter: Various facilitators Description: Location: Garden 3 Workshops #2 12:35-1:50pm CONTINUED Title: Let s Chat! Curating Creative Conversations Presenter: Justine Haemmerli Description: Do you suffer through endless, boring meetings that feel unfocused, deplete your energy and creativity, and make you feel disconnected? Are you seeking new ways to engage the youth with whom you work in meaningful debate and discussion, or wondering how to get your staff to share and show up honestly during group gatherings? In this highly interactive workshop, we ll experiment with six strategies to curate creative conversations and meaningful discourse, and reflect on what we need and want to bring in to our own work to make true communication feel alive, inspiring, and possible. As a result of this sessions, participants will know: What their priorities are around communication - Strategies for engaging individuals and groups - Strategies for giving everyone in the room even if it s a huge one! an equal voice As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Experiment with new strategies for fostering conversation, providing feedback, and synthesizing ideas; reflect on how to bring these strategies in to their own work; examine their own needs and wants around communication in their professional lives. As a result of this session participant will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Using new techniques in meetings, facilitation with youth or adults, professional development, youth development, etc. Location: Haas Title: Are We Speaking the Same Language? Best Practices for Supporting LGBTQ Youth Presenter: Kelly Kroehle, Bryson Institute of the Attic Youth Center 3

4 Description: This session is targeted toward professionals who are looking to enhance the safety and support systems for LGBTQ youth in their programmatic environments. Requiring no prior knowledge or experience, this session will provide basic information regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and LGBTQ youth identity development, build empathy and raise awareness around barriers facing LGBTQ youth, and assist participants in developing personal and professional action steps to ensure their spaces are maximally empowering for all youth. The session will utilize the tools of group discussion, experiential activities, and scenarios. As a result of this sessions, participants will know: The distinction between sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as introductory vocabulary associated with the LGBTQ youth community. As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Identify five realms of high-risk trends amongst LGBTQ youth, including family rejection, substance use, domestic and interpersonal violence, homelessness, and a lack of health care and identify eight tips around supporting LGBTQ youth who are coming out and recognize the associated challenges that may co-occur. As a result of this session participants will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Assessing their existing educational environments for strengths and areas for growth re: supporting LGBTQ students Implementing personal and professional best practices for supporting LGBTQ youth Location: Ullyot 4

5 Workshops #3 2:00-2:45 Workshops 3: Create Your Own Passion Project** Locations TBD based on topics- will be announced at the end of Workshop 2 and posted in the hallways/ on monitors. Health and Wellness for Staying Engaged at Work- Workout clothes are not necessary. This 45-minute workshop will be in the courtyard weather permitting or the Overlook as an alternate if the weather is uncooperative. Presenter: Gina Mancuso Description: Looking for ways to say keep your body and mind engaged at work so you can bring your very best self to work? Looking for fun ways to bring exercise to your staff and program participants? This session is designed to teach participants simple and effective ways to engage body and mind in the workplace in order to: Provide an opportunity for brief, but important stress relief during the workday Increase productivity and creativity through improved health/fitness Empower employees to learn new physical skills Planned activities are developed with workplace attire in mind. Session Objective: Participants will be able to translate learned skills to their workplace/communities/youth groups. Workshops #4 2:55-4:10pm Title: Program Retention: Strategies to Keep Young People Engaged, Empowered and Involved! Presenter: Amy Landesman Description: Enrolling young people and getting them through the door is not enough programs need to keep them coming back! Losing participants occurs for many reasons, but the results are the same; wasted time, lost money and loss of morale amongst staff and the remaining young people. This workshop will show attendees how to enhance their skills in developing relationships with young people that utilizes a strengths-based approach to engaging, empowering and involving young people so they remain in the program and have the opportunity to achieve their goals. Workshop Objectives: 1. Participants will learn the four phases of retention; 2. Participants will learn environmental factors within the organization that could affect retention; 3. Participants will learn to triage and reduce causes of participant dropout; and 4.Participants will learn to leverage active participation, competition, incentives and peer activities to maximize results Location: Franklin 1 & 2 Title: Adventures in Creativity & Collaboration Presenter: Yolanda Wisher Description: Participants will test out several low-budget, low-risk activities for young adults that make being creative and collaborative both simple and irresistible. Activities will involve card playing, survival simulation, 5

6 and found poetry. Reflection exercises, group discussion, handouts, and online resources will help participants figure out ways to adapt and apply the activities to their specific programs. As a result of this session, participants will know: Several new ways to engage, inspire, and connect young adults and where to access similar and/or additional resources online. As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Feel the fun and power of creativity and collaboration firsthand and lead a creative and/or collaborative activity with their youth. As a result of this session participants will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Using their workshop creations as well as distributed handouts and links to adapt the activities to their specific programs. Location: Garden 2 Workshops #4 2:55-4:10pm CONTINUED Title: Dream It, Do It: A Mini Pro-Action Café to Refine Your Creative Project or Address a Challenge Presenter: Michele Martin Description: A Pro Action Café is an innovative conversational methodology that uses a structured process for helping people talk about questions, projects, opportunities or challenges that matter most to the people who attend. In this session, participants can: volunteer to post a project/challenge/opportunity they want help on OR participate in the 3 rounds of conversation that make up a Pro Action Café. We will help each Caller (the person posting a project) explore 3 key questions about their project or issue and then we will reflect on how we could use the Pro Action Café process in our work with young people and with other organizations. This process is completely interactive and designed to help the Callers get clarity about their projects and to provide new networking/knowledge-building opportunities for the participants. As a result of this session, participants will know: The steps and processes in a Pro Action Café and How to participate in a Pro Action Café. As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Facilitate a Pro Action Café. As a result of this session participants will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Facilitating their own Pro Action Cafes Location: Garden 3 Title: Engaging & Simple: Creating Curriculum from Curiosity Presenter: Justine Haemmerli Description: Curriculum planning is exciting, thought-provoking, and joyful! Does that sentence have you raising your eyebrows? Then this is the workshop for you. If planning curriculum whether it s a daily lesson plan, or a year-long course of study feels anything but fun, intriguing, and energizing, join us to learn strategies for creating curriculum in a way that stems from your genuine curiosity and enthusiasm, and uses intuitive methods for streamlining your planning process so you don t get bogged down. Leave with the raw material for your new curriculum, clear next steps for moving forward, and materials to support your good work. As a result of this session, participants will know: New methods for curriculum planning, next steps to create lessons or units, what kinds of questions help to fuel engaging curriculum. As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Create lesson or unit plans with a simple process Determine what kinds of questions to use in working with young people to increase engagement. As a result of this session participants will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Creating engaging curriculum for youth that is grounded in curiosity, has clear structure, and isn t overwhelming for the one doing the planning. Location: Haas 6

7 Title: My Dream, My Career: Using Technology to Strengthen Work Ready Skills Presenter: Nia Dixon Description: Facilitator Nia Eubanks- Dixon will engage participants in an interactive discussion about the use of technology as a viable means to empower youth with knowledge of tools needed for making their career dreams a reality. Participants attending the My Dream, My Career workshop will find that they can easily integrate the 21 st Century Career Readiness tools and strategies discussed in the workshop into their current curriculum. As a result of this session, participants will know: Three websites (tools) that they can access in order to strengthen students understanding of the labor market and their ability rea lize and vocalize their assets as it pertains to employment and post- secondary entrance. Have three career ready activities that will aide in students desire to explore their career interests and passions. As a result of this session, participants will be able to: Integrate the tools discovered in this workshop in order to foster the 21 st century skills while enhancing students understanding of technology and its ability to cultivate creativity and design. As a result of this session participants will be able to apply what they learned to their work by: Have tangible tools (both technological and traditional) that they feel confortable with incorporating into their current curriculum to enhance their students 21 st century skills. Location: Ullyot 7