Please join Aaron Gilbert, Dana Mandolesi, Teresa Nauer, Bill Vanark, and the Youth Development Peer Network for the launch of the Youth Worker Brown Bags.

Youth Worker Brown Bags are our answer to meet the professional needs of the youth workers. Each month, Brown Bags will explore a specific topic that effects the field of youth development. Youth workers will be able to personally reflect on the topic, listen to others' ideas, ask deep questions in small affinity groups, connect the dots, dream about the possibilities, and act to achieve results.

This month, the topic will be PEACE. More specifically, we will be exploring how peace can be used as a means to address violence. Leading affinity groups will b:

Aaron Gilbert - Outdoor Education

Dana Mandolesi - Intermediaries and Collaboratives

Teresa Nauer - Youth transitioning to adult staff roles (17-22)

Bill Vanark - Program Directors

Jason Wyman - Other

AGENDA OVERVIEW:

The Youth Worker Brown Bags follow the YDPN Process. Below you will find the agenda for the Brown Bag using the YDPN Process

Reflect – What is your path to peace? - On arrival for about 10 minutes

Welcome, Introductions, Overview of Brown Bag Series and Purpose - 5 minutes

Listen - Panel - 20 minutes (5 minutes per person with 4 people)
* Please share your name, current occupation, why you are a youth worker, and what communities you are a part of.
* What affinity group are you leading and why?
* What does peace mean to you?
* How has your practice as a youth worker promoted and not promoted peace?

Inquire – Affinity Groups - 30 minutes
* Share name, current occupation, and path to peace (*briefly*)
* What are your initial reactions to the panel discussion?
* How does peace show up or not show up in your work?
* Additional Comments/Conversation

Connect – Resource Mapping - 25 minutes
Using the concept of mind mapping, complete the following. For more information about mind mapping, GO TO: www.delicious.com and SEARCH: “ydpnmindmap”.
* Place your affinity group in the center of the flip chart paper.
* FIRST LAYER: What are the major connections between your affinity group and peace? OR Where does peace show up? OR Where should there be peace? (e.g. Transitional Age Youth Workers — Major Connections could include Direct Interactions with youth, managing stress, violence prevention, community violence, etc.)
* SECOND LAYER: What are habits or practices that promote peace? (e.g. Transitional Age Youth Workers — Direct Interactions with youth — Practices could include Knowing each youth by first and last name, acknowledging each youth in your program, sharing stories about how you promote peace, mediating conflicts immediately, actively listening to youth, etc.)
* What are the major themes on your map?

Dream - Visioning Exercise - 15 minutes
Gallery walk and then a focused large group conversation.
* What do you see in the maps?
* What emotions do the maps elicit either through completion or observation?
* Why is looking at the intersections of our affinity groups and peace important?
* What connections, if any, are there between the maps?
* What vision(s) emerge(s) from these maps?

Act - Personal Commitment - 12 minutes
* What personal action can you commit to to realize the emerging vision and improving your practice of peace?