The Youth Empowerment Summit
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

“We are the roots that break through the concrete that’s been piled on top of us,” said Seattle delegate Luisa, addressing her peers at the Youth Empowerment Summit.

Delegates shared their thoughts, their stories, and the impact of YEP in their lives in the morning session on the final day of World Vision’s Youth Empowerment Summit. Second-year Tacoma delegate, Tanajah, said that she no longer feels intimidated when talking with professional people, and the reason for that is YEP.

Delegates donned evening gowns and tuxedos for the evening’s gala event. Josh Dubois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, was the evening’s keynote speaker. He started by having everyone hold their hands up and shake them back and forth. “I told President Obama that I would shake everyone’s hand,” he joked. He quickly turned more serious, commending the Youth Empowerment Project. “World Vision’s YEP is helping to develop the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

Young people sat at tables with donors, community activists, and government officials, where they discussed the needs in their communities, their week in Washington, D.C., and about the impact of World Vision’s YEP.
Romanita Hairston, vice president of U.S. Programs for World Vision, told the audience she knows the youth in YEP are committed to being advocates for change. “This is an opportunity for you to become social advocates,” she said to the donors as she asked them to consider making a donation.

As the delegates return home, they will remember the words of their colleague, Shamae, from the D.C. YEP delegation: “Never let anyone steer you wrong and crush your dreams. When you get that opportunity to reach your goal, don’t let anything in your way, not even yourself.”

Shamae finished up with this exhortation: “You are on the front lines of community change, so let’s take back our communities in the name of justice.” With the training they have received in YEP, and with support from mentors and community leaders, these teenagers can make it so. read more at: http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-america-youth-empowerment-summit