Young Leaders for Social Change Gathering

“Bridging the Gap: Social Change in the 21^st Century”

October 23-24, 2009

 

Overview:

In October of 2009, Southern Partners Fund invited young and emerging community organizers, nonprofit professionals and philanthropic practitioners, ages 18-35, to attend the inaugural Young Leaders for Social Change Gathering. This event offered the next generation of leaders dedicated to social justice in the South, an opportunity to network and engage in discussion and knowledge building sessions focused on social justice philanthropy, boardsmanship, and emerging and intersectional issues in the movement and across the sector.   

 

The Young Leaders for Social Change Project is an initiative of the Social Justice Institute (SJI), SPF’s leadership development and capacity building program for nonprofits in the U.S. south. The Project aims to increase skills, knowledge, advocacy, and civic participation among new and emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector committed to progressive social change in the South and across the U.S.  Check back here for upcoming events and programs of YLSC Project.

 

Objectives:

• Build the individual and collective leadership capacity and voice of young people.
• Build the power, leadership, and vision of young leaders acting on issues defined by and affecting them and their communities. 
• Bring together diverse populations represented throughout the South to engage in facilitated discussions focused on present and emerging intersectional issues and movements.
• Involve young leaders in the design, implementation, progression and evaluation of SPF’s Young Leaders for Social Change Project. 
• Engage young people in understanding civic engagement, community organizing and advocacy skills to support the development of social change strategies in their neighborhoods and communities.
• Bridge the gap between young community organizers, nonprofit professionals and philanthropic practitioners working for social change.

 Target Audience: 

• Individuals ages 18-35
• Community organizers, activists, advocates, volunteers
• Nonprofit professionals: Program Directors, Development Staff, Finance Officers, Board Members, Executives, Research Staff, Marketing/Communications Staff
• Philanthropic professionals: Program assistants, Program Officers, Foundation/Research Fellows, Marketing/Communications Staff, Grants Managers, Trustees, Young Donors
• Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Students
• People of color
• LGBTQ community
• Individuals working primarily in the rural South and across the Southeast Region
• Individuals with a commitment and passion for Social Justice including the following issue areas: Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, Education Reform, Immigration Reform, Labor Rights, Civic Engagement, Healthcare Reform and Disability Rights, Housing Reform, Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Prison Reform, Youth Development, Women and Girl’s Empowerment, Indigenous Rights, Equitable Disaster Recovery and Renewal.

Location:

Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center

800 Spring Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30308

 Agenda

Friday, October 23, 2009

Afternoon                                Arrivals

Evening                                   Welcome reception and The Circle discussion

 

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Morning Program                       Breakfast

                                             Welcome

                                             Overview

                                             Salon: Armchair Discussion with Young Leaders

                                             3 Concurrent Workshops

Afternoon Program                    Keynote speaker Representative Alisha Morgan
                                             Armchair Response and Discussion

                                             3 Concurrent Workshops

                                             Closing Wrap Up and Spoken Word Performance

 

 

Workshops/Sessions

•  Money for the Movement - Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT)
• Southern Movement Building: Our History and Vision - Project South
• The Next Generation of Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector: How Will You Choose to Lead? - Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy & National Council on Responsive Philanthropy
• LGBTQ Lens: Culture and Legacy of Community Organizing - Southerners on New Ground (SONG)
• Strong Leaders: An Anti-Racist Journey for Intentional Leadership Development - The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
• Strengthening Philanthropy with Young Voices - Resource Generation

Contributors

In addition to the workshops, the gathering incorporated dialogue amongst young, promising professionals in the fields of community organizing, philanthropy, and nonprofit management including:

• Monica Simpson, Grassroots Leadership
• Jessica Norwood, Emerging Changemakers Network
• Erin Byrd, Blackworkers for Justice/Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble, Blueprint NC
• Dwayne Marshall, Lead Field Organizer GA 2008 Obama/Biden Campaign
• Mike Molina, New Orleans Spoken Word artist, author The Second Line
• Milano Harden, The Genius Group, Inc.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the Young Leaders for Social Change Gathering please contact Leland McKeithan. leland (at) spfund.org, (404) 541-9091 ext. 16