Foundation Takes on the Western States Conference
My Way:
2009 Youth to Youth Western States Conference
Claremont-McKenna College: Claremont, CA
July 8-11, 2009
The Shinnyo-en Foundation, in its continuing partnership with Youth to Youth International, brought the Six Billion Paths to Peace initiative alive at this year’s Youth to Youth Western States regional conference. Kim Keller, SEF Staff Consultant and long-time friend of Youth to Youth, and Katie Boehnlein, SEF Summer Intern, attended the conference where Kim served as lead counselor and Katie served on the Adult Staff. They offered emotional support, led groups and connected with participants.
Each summer, Youth to Youth holds three conferences nation-wide which serve as locations for young people to meet and dialogue about drugs and alcohol and for participants and staff to form deep bonds. Youth to Youth conferences allow hundreds of teens each summer to find out what makes their paths unique and special through discussions in small groups, workshops, and other conference activities.
On one of the first days of the conference, Kim and Katie collaborated to present an “Extreme Skill” workshop entitled “Stress Bustin’ as a Path to Peace.” The workshop was based on the Foundation’s newest set of reflection cards called “Be the Peace” which focus on stress reduction as a path to peace. In this workshop, Katie and Kim asked participants to identify stressors in their lives. They then presented information on the physiology of stress and how dealing with stress in constructive ways can be a path to ensure that we all create more peaceful communities. Managing our everyday stressors can be a way to become more comfortable with ourselves, leading to greater and more compassionate actions in our communities. Kim and Katie led workshop participants through two very effective stress reduction methods: hand massages and meditation, which demonstrated to the participants how relaxed they could become. Kim and Katie also distributed Six Billion Paths to Peace t-shirts, pins, bookmarks, and tote-bags, allowing the initiative’s message to be circulated throughout the rest of the conference.
The Foundation’s partnership with Youth to Youth International has been a way for both organizations to recognize their similarities and for the Foundation to spread the message of promoting peace in our everyday lives. Kim and Katie’s presence allowed the Six Billion Paths to Peace initiative to align itself with Youth to Youth’s goals, demonstrating that each participant’s presence at the conference was a path to peace in itself. The conference promoted the importance of positive dialogue, relationship building, and small daily acts of service. Youth to Youth empowers young people to be leaders in their communities, allowing them a safe space to find and explore their paths to peace and become role models to younger youth. By learning how to spread the message of positive lifestyle choices, teens involved in Youth to Youth are able to find their own paths which are ultimately the foundation for more peaceful and harmonious communities. Connecting Youth to Youth participants to the message of Six Billion Paths to Peace has been a very productive partnership, empowering youth to be leaders in promoting peace.
Kim and Katie came back rejuvenated by the experience while the participants left inspired.
Shinnyo-en Foundation at Youth to Youth Western States Conference
Kim and Katie present a workshop entitled “Stress Bustin’ as a Path to Peace”
Hand massages!
Conference participant wearing his new Six Billion Paths to Peace tshirt
