Super-Edited Resolution for YAYA Empowerment

Youth and Young Adult Empowerment Resolution

WHEREAS the Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws state that our Association promotes "the full participation of persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of human endeavor without regard to . . . age"; and

WHEREAS statement #12, “Support, Integrate, and Retain youth and young adults to keep our congregations vibrant and growing” in the Open Space Technology Process at General Assembly 2007 received the largest number of votes, 773 votes (representing 12.4 % of the votes cast); and

WHEREAS the future of our denomination benefits from the full participation of youth and young adults to enliven, grow and sustain our Unitarian Universalist movement, principles and ideals, including the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large; and

WHEREAS Youth and Young Adult empowerment is an attitudinal, structural and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people to create intergenerational equity; and

WHEREAS unique opportunities at the congregational, district and continental level for youth and young adult self-direction create synergy for a larger youth and young adult identity and promote communication and connections between local youth and young adults across the continent;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 2008 ____________ District Assembly / General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges the Unitarian Universalist Association, its congregations and district structures to:
1. Invite ministerial support to youth and young adults through inclusive worship and intentional presence; and
2. Invest financial support in youth and young adult leadership bodies and programs when viable; and
3. Provide support for youth and young adult staff and volunteers to receive suitable training and resources, including self-directed anti-racism and anti-oppression trainings; and
4. Attend to the needs of youth and young adult constituents with marginalized identities by providing resources and opportunities within the congregation and at the district and continental levels.

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We'd like to thank the following people for contributing edits and feedback regarding this most recent (Super-Edited and Condensed) version of the Youth and Young Adult Empowerment resolution and the resolution in general:

Alexis Blackman, Cat Lyons, Claire Sexton, Rev. Daniel O'Connell, Danny Maitland, Devin Murphy, Donald Wilson, Edward Wilkinson, Elandria Williams, Eliza Hens-Greco, Ellen Carvill, Ellen Zemlin, Erik David Carlson, Flo Dickerson, George Brown, Hazel Gabe, Heather Godbout, Jan Taddeo, Jonathan Craig, Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons, Rev. Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn, Justine Urbikas, Kasey Neiss, Kathryn Wiley, Kenneth Sime, Laura Spencer, LinZ Simon, Lucinda Robinson, Lyn Cox, Mary Manchester, Meredith Lukow, Rev. Michael Tino, Nick Allen, Tsuki Naka, Tristen Wolfe, Will Floyd.

We'd like to give a special thanks to Wayne Arnason for this new Super-Edited version. :)
If we missed your name, we are so sorry so please let us know and we will fix it!

Blessings,

Victoria and Kimberlee