Looking for youth entering grade 10, 11, or 12 who want to make a difference in their community
›› Arielle Houghton
We are at an extraordinary point in time—youth around the world are raising their voices and standing up for change. From the March for our Lives to Scotland’s campaign to lower the voting age to the Sunrise Movement, youth are taking their future into their own hands.
We believe with the right knowledge, skills and tools, British Columbian youth will be effective change-makers in their home communities. Summit is an intensive five-day program organized by the Dogwood Initiative. It is for teenagers aged 15 through 17 that combines classroom theory with real world practice. We offer organizing and campaigning skills in order for youth to become effective change-makers in their communities.
2019 will be our second year of running this program, after a successful pilot in August 2018 in Vancouver. We will be running two programs this year, each with 15 participants. Our programs will be offered July 22nd through July 26th in Vancouver, and August 19th through August 23rd in Victoria.
The curriculum includes helping participants design and strategize their own advocacy campaign. We host a variety of guest speakers, including Indigenous youth and local community leaders.
Participants learn hands-on government relations skills by visiting a local MLA’s office, and learn about media relations from former and current journalists.
The primary goal of the workshop is to provide youth with the tools to make change in their home communities. Participation in this program will also strengthen students’ post-secondary and scholarship applications, and provide them with a network of allies who will be an ongoing support system.
To learn more visit dogwoodbc.ca/summit-2019/. The application deadline is June 7th, 2019.
