2101 Youth Leadership: Our Legacy, Our Future

Panelists:

C. Leon Hopper, Jr., Minister Emeritus of East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue Wa. and recently active in the UU Partner Church Council

Hon. Richard Kossow, Superior Court judge in California

The Rev Wayne Arnason, at-large member of the UUA Board and Secretary of the UUA

Adam Auster, energy critic, environmental activist, and organizer in the Boston area.

The Rev, Nada Velimirovic, Director of Lifespan Faith Development for the Pacific Central District

Rebecca Scott, Associate Director of Charitable Gifts and Estate Planning for the UUA

Maura McGill, community organizer and YRUU Youth Council member

Leon Hopper

Hon. Richard Kossow

Wayne Arnason     Adam Auster     Rebecca Scott     Maura McGill

Each of the panelists spoke for five minutes and had a quite different experience with the youth movement. There were many comments from the audience, most of whom were people who were passionately involved in the youth movement.

Leon Hopper was President of the AUY (and youth rep to the AUY board) in 1952. He was the Executive Director of LRY (not AUY) from 1957 to 1963. He would not have entered ministry or had the necessary leadership skills had it not been for his experiences in the denomination's youth movement. He emphasized the sense of global outreach in the youth movement. LRY was affiliated with an international organization; it really was an international movement of religious liberal youth (especially including Netherlanders and Germans). The consistency of support from the Association -- or the lack of it -- has a tremendous effect on the youth movement, said Hopper.

Hon. Richard Kossow was the director of LRY in 1967-1969, in an advisory capacity. "It definitely shaped my life," said Kossow.

Wayne Arnason was the first director of LRY after Richard Kossow after a 10-year interregnum. "The process of youth experiencing their own power is very important,” said Arnason. “Also, we must understand how we marginalize youth (and how they marginalize themselves to some extent)." His own experiences of the youth program profoundly affected his work as a UUA Board member.

Adam Auster was LRY social action director in 1973. Youth empowerment was what he remembered as being most effective. "You need to really think about how do you really empower," said Auster. His main point was that "If you let youth lead, and empower them, it will transform the movement."

The Rev. Nada Velimirovic was in LRY in 1970s and was on the LRY Executive Committee. LRY funding was proposed to be cut 70% at one point, but it was reinstated at GA in a painful process. "We did not do conflict well" was an understatement. "We did not have the skills, the language to deal with issues, nor to stay in a conversation with the adults in the movement. For the future: in order for youth to make a difference today, we need to stay engaged as adults, not just a few ministers, but all ministers and laity."

Rebecca Scott said that there was a lot of political struggle during her time with the LRY.

Maura McGill gave a more contemporary perspective. "The most important thing to consider with YRUU is to continue communication, to teach youth the language of standing up for themselves," said McGill.

In summary, many people involved in the youth movement remember painful times, but for many it was one of the best experiences of their lives.

HANDOUT

LRY RESOURES ON THE WEB (a very partial guide):

LRY Memorial Room : This site, by two former editors of People Soup (the LRY newspaper from 1973-1982) includes photos, extensive links, and a guest book of greetings from hundreds of former LRYers. A great place to check for old friends or leave a greeting.

LRY Members Online Reunion : More than 400 former LRYers belong to this online community, which spans many areas and generational cohorts. The main attraction here is an active many-to-many email list, but there are also extensive archives of photos, a collaborative history, and other digital memorabilia (including mp3s ripped from the LRY Record of 1968). Another good place to make inquiries about old friends. Membership is required but is free of charge. One can join from the website, or sign up for emails only (no access to archives) by sending email to: lry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Unitarian Universalist Youth History Web : This site archives some important material releated to the end of LRY including the 1978 report of the Special Committee on Youth Programs, five- and fifteen-year reviews of YRUU, materials from Common Ground, and an essay about LRY with many primary sources.

Follow the Gleam : A short excerpt of Rev. Wayne Arnason's book sketches the history of Unitarian and Universalist youth movements.

Do Youth Have Souls? : Jaco B. ten Hove's sermon of March 4, 2001 tells the praises of "homebred UUs" and the importance of young folks to the life of UU congregations.

Growing Up Unitarian Universalist : Rev. Dr. George Kimmick Beach's memoir communicates the spirit and significance of the first (pre-merger) Unitarian-Universalist youth conference on Cow Island (New Hampshire) in 1951.

Reported for the Web by Allan Stern, edited by Margy Levine Young; Web Design by Julie Albanese