EVENT: Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute 2019

Monday-Friday June 17 - 21

Join us for our fifth annual Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute for rising 9th-12th graders. Youth will focus on understanding their relationship to social media and will analyze its role in identity presentation and representation. They will explore social media as a tool for social change and how it can amplify both positive and negative narratives of self and others.  If you are a teen or know a teen looking to better understand how to navigate identity in the digital age, we hope you will join us for this engaging leadership opportunity.

Local artists and trained youth workers from JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Youth Council will work with participants to address issues of representation through social media and art. We will also explore strategies for self-care, healing, and sustainability.

Throughout the week students build relationships with one another while engaging content. Working with local artists, participants learn how art is used as a tool for social change, and will create projects to address some aspect of gender and identity representation in social media. Through this process, participants learn self-awareness in their online presence, communication, self-expression, online engagement, and leadership skills. On Wednesday, participants will take an art and social engagement focused field trip to enhance and deepen their learning. The camp will end with a presentation from participants open to family, friends, and the community.

Held at JMU’s Icehouse (127 West Bruce Street. Harrisonburg, VA 22807) Room 117. Camp will run from 9:00am-2:00pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 7:30am-5:30pm Wednesday (fieldtrip), and will end Friday at 12:00 with a presentation and lunch.

Youth Igniting Change is FREE for participants. Transportation can be provided for participants living in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham area. Transportation will be provided for ALL participants for the field trip.

Lunch is provided each day.

To register please fill out the participation form at the link below: 
https://forms.gle/Gi1nra7foJeU6dpPA

Contact Josh Diamond for further questions at diamonjn@jmu.edu or 540-421-2265