Bridge Conference 2019

Culture—ethnic/racial, familial, geographic, and more—is a powerful shaping agent in all our lives, especially those of our youth. It provides lenses through which we view self and the world around us. What exactly is culture? How does it shape the lives of youth? What happens when youth begin to embrace the various cultures to which they belong and that play such an integral role in forming their identity? Through presentation, shared learning/sharing out, activity, and personal reflection, participants in this workshop will gain and deepen skills in affirming young people’s cultures and intersectional identities by:
• exploring what culture is and the role it has in shaping who we are,
• exploring how embracing culture allows youth to recognize their own strength and power,
• exploring how embracing principles of cultural humility can aid in the process of embracing culture and dismantling oppression, and
• exploring how embracing culture creates space and opportunity to transform systems, organizations, and programs
Participants will also leave the workshop with deeper knowledge and tools that they may use when working with youth in their communities and organizations.