Youth Summit for Sustainable Development
Virgin Gorda, BVI
January 2-7, 2009
The Virgin Gorda Youth Leadership Initiative’s first annual Youth Summit on Sustainable Development will bring together youth leaders from the island, urban, suburban, rural, global communities: Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, Vieques, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, Massachusetts and Marin County, California. The Youth Summit faculty will include prominent speakers from BVI and global business and experienced youth leaders who are prepared to address the social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Young people will develop action plans for their personal, professional and community/global goals. The highlight of the Youth Summit is a Youth Forum where delegates will be challenged to create a 2020 vision for sustainable development. The Youth Forum will be down linked to delegate communities to engage others to help realize this vision and build sustainable communities. A recognition event will be held with families, BVI government and community leaders, seasonal residents and sponsors. Our host for the Youth Summit is the Bitter End Yacht Club, the first environmental Caribbean resort. jetBlue is our national airline sponsor.
Virgin Gorda Youth Leadership Initiative’s mission is to inspire and support young people to develop their full potential, broaden their horizons, strengthen their character and develop their leadership abilities so they can positively contribute to a better future for all people in Virgin Gorda. VGYLI is dedicated to sustainable tourism.
VGYLI was formed in 2006 by youth, local citizens, business, churches, education and government leaders who are concerned for the island’s youth. VGYLI is supported by the BVI Ministry of Education and Culture.
The Stone Soup Leadership Institute provides technical assistance and training to VGYLI and develops public-private partnerships to help prepare Virgin Gorda youth to become leaders of the 21st century. The Institute is a 501 (c3) educational organization founded in 1997 that develops tools, programs and youth-community initiatives that honor everyday heroes and train future and emerging leaders to work together to build a better world. The Institute has conducted four Youth Summits and celebrated its 10th anniversary with the culmination a bi-lingual youth leadership demonstration project in Vieques, Puerto Rico and the 2020 Report on Sustainable Development. The 2020 Report was presented at the Asian-Pacific Economic Council Youth Summit in Peru to inspire youth leaders from 21 countries to create a declaration for world leaders at the APEC Summit in November 2008.
The Youth Summit will launch the Institute’s Global Technology Initiative’s pilot program with Virgin Gorda Youth Leadership Initiative, Dominican University’s Institute of Leadership Studies, San Rafael, CA and University of Massachusetts Boston. By collaborating with the Institute’s team of education, environmental and international development leaders, we will create an action-learning community of youth leaders who are developing socially positive projects and partnerships and building a healthy global village..
VGYLI Youth Summit Overview
Components
Thursday, Jan. 1 6 - 8 p.m. Welcome Dinner/Orientation for Faculty/U.S. Delegates
Friday, January 2 10 am-5 pm Personally Sustainability: Own Your Power
• Welcome and Introductions Faculty and Project Coordinators
• Youth Delegates VG/BVI, Bahamas, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, California
• What is your dream for your life?
• VYLI Youth Leader Kutasha Silva, Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
• VGYLI Youth Leader Kyle Harrigan, BVI Tourism Board, Virgin Gorda
• VGYLI Youth Leader Feliza Fenty VGYLI youth/Texas Christian University
• VGYLI Youth Leader Connillia Williams, future pediatrician Harvard MS
• BVI/Caribbean Artisan Johnnie Francis, Aragon’s Studio, Trellis Bay
• Communicating Your Dream Adrianna Soverall, SSLI Project Coordinator, California
Saturday, Jan. 3 10 am-5 pm Professionally Sustainability:
Use Your Power to Shape the World
• VG Business Leader Emily Fletcher, The Mineshaft Café
• Environmental Business Leader Brown Williams, Evergreen Solar Inc.
• Black Engineer of the Year Hulas King Siemens Global Community Relations
• BVI Dept. of Conservation & Fisheries Angela Burnett Penn/Lenette Lewis
Sunday, Jan. 4 2-6 pm Local-Global Sustainability: Share Your Power
• Sandwatch Project at Savannah Beach Jasseim Maynard and Mario Reid
• 2020 Report on Sustainable Development Tania Cruz, VYLI Eco-Tourism Coordinator
• BVI Dept. of Conservation & Fisheries Angela Burnett Penn/Lenette Lewis
• Sea Turtle Preservation Belinda Kloppers, Dive BVI
• Ocean Conservancy Project Latoya George, VGYLI youth
Monday, Jan. 5 4-6 pm Environmental Stewardship Adventure
Tuesday, Jan. 6 4-6 pm The Challenge: Call-to-Action
Youth Forum link to Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, California
Social Networking/Facebook for Youth Delegates
Graduation Ceremony & Reception
Wednesday, Jan. 7 4-6 pm Virgin Gorda Community Service Project
VGYLI Youth Summit Daily Activities
I. Morning Sessions in large group
• Presentations see above
• Writing + Buddies/small group updates Developing action plans in small groups
• Leadership Skills Development Group dynamics/wake up energizers/ice breakers
• Arianna Caplan, SSLI Project Coordinator Communication for effective tools
II. Afternoon Workshops in small groups
• Dream collages • Writing newsletter
• Creating website • Producing video
• On-line research reports 2020 • Design profile for social networking
• 1 to 1 Mentoring: professional goals