Form a Youth-Led, Interfaith Leadership Team

Inspired to Serve in Action

St. Paul site, Inspired to Serve project

 

Forming a youth leadership team is an important step in creating a successful interfaith service-learning partnership (unless you determine that an existing group will integrate the vision into their work). Depending on your goals, this team may focus on designing and leading a one-time introductory event. Or it may be an ongoing group that shapes and builds the vision and strategies for interfaith service-learning across time. 

You may have existing guidelines and experiences for shaping the leadership team in your community. The following ideas can be adapted and refined to fit your own circumstances.

Responsibilities

  • Shaping, sharing, and tending the vision for interfaith service-learning in your community.
  • Inviting new partners to be part of the work. This may include other religious organizations, social service agencies, service-learning allies, and funding partners.
  • Orienting new partners into the vision, philosophy, and approach of the leadership team.
  • Guiding the process of planning, leading, and following up on one-day service events (if you have host them).
  • Overseeing and leading ongoing interfaith service-learning projects, particularly encouraging all leaders to work on continuing improvement in light of quality standards.
  • Attending to issues of sustainability of the community-wide interfaith service-learning efforts. This includes inviting and integrating new leaders as part of the leadership team.

Membership

Serving on the leadership team is a sizable time commitment, and members need to share the vision and commitments of interfaith service-learning. Consider including:

  • Youth from participating religious institutions as well as other youth who may want to participate. Be sure to include youth at multiple grade levels so that the whole team doesn't graduate from high school at once.
  • Adult leaders from religious institutions, partner service organizations, local interfaith organizations, and other stakeholders.
  • Community members from places that may benefit from service and justice actions. Their participation in the planning builds a sense of partnership and also helps to avoid paternalism.
  • Attend to issues of diversity, including gender, culture, racial-ethnic, age, socioeconomic, ability, and other areas. Keep in mind that youth who tend to be marginalized in society are generally less likely to have leadership and service opportunities, even though they benefit and contribute as much as other youth.

At least half of those participating should be young people (under age 20). Groups of 10 to 15 are often the most effective in moving work forward while also allowing for broad representation. 

In each case, talk first with the leaders about expectations for level of involvement, as well as the values and approach that undergird your efforts. Introduce them to the basic ideas of service-learning, interfaith engagement, and asset building.

Youth Participation

  • Avoid tokenism. Asking one or two youth to join a board may make youth intimidated or inadequate to represent all of their peers. A rule of thumb may be to include at least as many youth as adults. Some groups shift to having primarily youth on their team, with adults being in support roles.
  • Maintain a clear system of accountability. Don't invite youth involvement and then ignore the ideas they offer.
  • Give youth meaningful opportunities to participate and lead, based on their experience and competencies.
  • Provide the information, support, and training young people need.
  • Schedule meetings at times when youth can participate.
  • Keep in mind that youth will require transportation and parental consent (if under age 18) in order to participate.

First Steps Together

  • Engage in action and reflection together. Don’t think you have to sort out all the issues before you can do anything together. The strength of interfaith engagement comes as young people from diverse religious traditions work side-by-side in service to the community, then dialogue face-to-face about their own beliefs and values that motivate them to serve others.
  • Focus on building meaningful relationships among team members. Use team meetings to practice relationships skills, navigating religious differences, and other issues.
  • Create opportunities to learn together, through informal or peer learning networks, study circles, or training events. For example, join in these two sessions from Walking the Walk as part of your teambuilding time: Sharing Meaningful Objects and Asking Good Questions.
  • Determine whether you want to begin your work together by planning a one-day event, investigating community priorities, or tapping additional training or resources for your own learning.

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