National Service Learning Conference 2008

The 19th National Service Learning Conference took place April 9 through 12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center with 3,000 participants from more than 12 different countries participated in the largest intergenerational conference solely dedicated to the field of service learning.  The conference connects participants with service-learning leaders through three days of plenary sessions, featured forums, and service projects. It also provides access to new ideas and networking opportunities, with more than 200 workshops and countless opportunities for informal meetings.  These workshops are organized into several tracts that focus on serving -learning with several different lenses such as International, Environment, Youth, and Advocacy. 

This year marked the second year that the Shinnyo-en Foundation supported the Spirituality tract which focuses on the relationship between spirituality and service.  As part of this track, the Foundation put on its own workshop called “Six Billion Paths to Peace: Techniques for Deepening Reflection” that was well received and attended by more than 60 participants.  The workshop was presented by Maura Wolf of Shinnyo-en Foundation and Nan Peterson of the Blake School.

Joining the 3,000 participants were seven Shinnyo-en Young Adults, Hiroki Tan, Naoko Hara, Casey Collins, Sophia Lin, Atsushi Suzuki, Daphne Yeung, and Luke Goh who all commented on what a great opportunity coming to the conference was to them.  They felt many of the ideas and values expressed throughout the conference have many similarities with the Shinnyo-en teachings. 

A major highlight of the conference occurred during the Friday morning plenary session when Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the entire conference and gave an inspiring message to all those present.  "You young people are the ones that God wants to enlist," Tutu said, "because you young people are idealists. You dream dreams…. Youth for change!”  His message echoed the ideas and values of the Shinnyo-en Foundation, directly linking service with peace building. 

Other highlights of the conference included a private visit to the Blake School with Nan Peterson and a Service Learning World Forum which focused discussion on the international aspects of the conference.

It was truly an inspiring three days for all those in attendance and refueled the level of energy and commitment to support, maintain, and further service-learning.