Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement (c) 2014 IDEA Partnership Change the Picture Youth-Led, Youth-Driven Webinars on Transition

Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement (c) 2014 IDEA Partnership

Change the PictureYouth-Led, Youth-Driven

Webinars on Transition

3rd Youth Webinar on Transition

Sponsored by the IDEA’s Partnership National Community of Practice on Transition

April 29th 2014


OBJECTIVES

Through the personal stories and insights of youth and adult allies

from Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Hampshire, Michigan, Arizona,

and California, and Virginia, webinar participants will learn about:

The youth experience and role in transition

The power of authentic youth engagement,

self-determination and leadership in transition

Ideas for how to best support youth in the

transition process


YOUR ENGAGEMENT

During the Webinar, we encourage all to:

Reflect Connect Share


YOUR ENGAGEMENT

Follow us on Twitter: @_Partnership

Tweet reflections, questions & insights with the #youth4engagement Hashtag

Check out the following link for a Twitter E-How: bit.ly/TwitterEHow


ORIGINS

Christopher Coulston (DE), Emma Kemler (VA), Chris Nace (DC), Rachael Fiel (VA),

Everett Deibler (PA)

Youth from PA, VA, DE and DC came together to present on

transition at the 2013 Pennsylvania Community on

Transition Conference.

The youth were motivated to continue to spread the

conversation on youth leadership and authentic engagement to

professionals and youth throughout the country.


SETTING THE FOUNDATION

Our Guiding Pillars

Transition Youth Engagement

A Support Team

Knowing Yourself


WEBINAR #1 GET THE PICTURE


WEBINAR #2 GET INTO THE PICTURE


WHERE CAN I GET THESE RESOURCES?!

bit.ly/YouthWebinars2014


TODAY


ADULT ALLIES – A CHANGE IN MINDSET

The Drivers The Supporters

I Teach You We Learn Together

“I will just do it.” “You can do it. I am here to help!”


HOW HAVE YOUTH SUPPORTED ADULT ALLIES GROWTH?

I have learned…Kept me honest…

Shared with me new perspectives

Challenged me to consider innovative solutions


YOUTH LEADERS HAVE PROBABLY TAUGHT ME MORE THAN ADULT LEADERS!

Youth leaders are more open to learning and engaging in new activities. In my experience, youth leaders more readily

take their missteps in stride and also celebrate their successes more often. I am reminded how important it is to

be flexible, keep a sense of humor and celebrate more often!


ADULT ALLIES – BELIEFS

Confidence in Youth

Sharing the Power

We all have Unique Talents and Strengths

Every Opinion Counts!


PARTNERSHIPS

A young person should see an adult ally as a person who

“always has their back”, but also knows when to “back off”

so that the young person believes they can do anything!


ADULT ALLIES – CHARACTERISTICS

Asks Probing Questions

Open Opportunities for

Youth to Fully Express

Themselves

Shares Genuine Interest & Values

Young People


How have adult allies helped you in the

transition process?


Alyssa Cowin with Gov. Jack Markell Delaware Department of Health and Social

Services – Operation Support Specialist


My adults are my parents, friends, and co-workers who I

work with now at DHSS. When I need help I can go to my

adults allies. They help me with problems.

They also believe in me.


Reese EskridgeUniversity of Delaware, Student


Chris Coulston with Kathie HerelConcord High School, Student


Chris Coulston with Dale MatusevichConcord High School, Student


HOW HAVE ADULT ALLIES HELPED YOU IN THE TRANSITION PROCESS?


SHARING THE POWER

You have 3 options…

We’ve identified

what is best for you.

Let’s co-create the options together!


QUESTIONS YOUNG PEOPLE MAY ASK THEMSELVES

Are my ideas really

considered?

When I speak, the meeting ‘stops.’ I

feel ‘yessed at,’ and then the meeting

continues on.

They tell me I need to be a self-

advocate, but how can I be one, when

I am given no power?


What has been most challenging in working with

adults?


Alyssa CowinDelaware Department of Health and Social



The biggest challenge in working with adults allies is

that some people can't understand what I'm saying.




Chris CoulstonConcord High School, Student


WHAT HAS BEEN MOST CHALLENGING IN WORKING WITH ADULTS?


COMMUNICATION

We tend to ‘direct’ much communication, with just some being understood. Thus, it is imperative to co-create communication norms.


COMMUNICATION NORMS

In ActionComponents

Communication Norms

Non-Verbal Whole-Body Listening

Participation in Meetings

Verbal

Word Choice Equitable Conversations

Tone “Any Questions?”

How do we best learn & share with

one another?


In which ways can adult allies best support you, so

you feel comfortable engaging with them?


Alyssa CowinDelaware Department of Health and Social



When adults are friendly to me, they make make feel

comfortable to ask questions.




Chris Coulston with Joanne CashmanConcord High School, Student


IN WHICH WAYS CAN ADULT ALLIES BEST SUPPORT YOU, SO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE ENGAGING WITH THEM?

Do we co-invest in the time we have now, or do we push through, then wonder where the time has

gone?


SEEING THE BIG PICTURE


How can adult allies empower you, as you take

charge of your life?


Alyssa Cowin with Secretary Rita Landgraf Delaware Department of Health and Social Services –

Operation Support Specialist


Adults allies can empower me by help me.


Chris Coulston with Jonathan Mooney Concord High School, Student


HOW CAN ADULT ALLIES EMPOWER YOU, AS YOU TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE?

Power Hierarchies


THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY


Everett DeiblerLehigh Valley Center For Independent Living


Chris NaceDistrict of Columbia Public Schools


Clement CoulstonSpecial Olympics Project UNIFY® & Student Voice

@clementc26


Chris CoulstonConcord High School

@irishchris2014


Matthew Shapiro


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

www.socialinclusion.org bit.ly/NYLNAdultAllies


THANK YOU TO THE WEBINAR PLANNING TEAM

Everett Deibler (PA)

Emma Kemler (VA)

Christopher Coulston (DE)

Clem Coulston (DE)

Chris Nace (DC)

Rachael Fiel (VA)

Joan Kester (PA)

Mariola Rosser (MD)

Joanne Cashman (VA)

Maria Peak (MI)

Reema Alabdulwahab

(CO)

Matthew Shapiro (VA)


Abdulaziz AlMutairi Kuwait


Abdullah Al-HindiKuwait

Documents

Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement (c) 2014 IDEA Partnership Change the Picture Youth-Led, Youth-Driven Webinars on Transition