2023 Event Experiences

Art and Impact & Art Exhibition

Mending Walls is a public art project that brings together public artists from different cultures and backgrounds to create murals that address where we are now in society and how we can move forward through understanding and collaboration. Mending Walls pairs up artists of different backgrounds to create unique connections and give them an opportunity to tell their stories collaboratively in an effort to express healing through connection. This session will explore bringing about healing through public art.

Big Dream/Road Map To Life

This session will facilitate a panel discussion with Pro Athletes as they share insight into their lives and challenges. This session will look to take the student into what helped these athletes beat the odds and become part of the small percentage. Q&A What are your dreams? What fears are surrounding your dreams? What are the steps to achieve those dreams? How do you enjoy the journey, the process, and the ups and downs?

Career, Jobs, or Work: What gets your AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire Action)

Are you tired of answering the questions, “What do you want to do next?”, “What are your career plans?”, or “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Well this session will NOT ask you that. Instead, it will focus on what you want employers to know about this generation. We will build a list of what gets your attention, draws your interest, meets your desires, and make you take action in your careers, jobs, and work!

Changing the World

This panel session will explore how students can be involved and make an impact in their community through community service, service learning initiatives, and other programs. Students will be asked the following questions: What does changing the world look like to you? What activities are you currently involved in that you feel are impactful? What would you like to be involved in that you currently are not? what do you need from adults to have you make and impact?

Coming to “America”: Understanding the experience of new comers to the United States

This session will include a combination of interaction/engagement, information sharing, and conversation. The key learning outcomes will be building empathy for those immigrating to the US, making the connection between what is happening globally to what is happening locally, sharing information about the process of resettlement, and providing a call to action for how youth can get involved.

Conflict Resolution

This session will ask students about their experiences of de-escalating situations and restorative practices in school, at home, and in their community. The student will be given tools to use to face challenging conversations and situations.

Exploring Race and Relational Aggression

Beginning with the roots of prejudice and relational aggression, this interactive presentation demonstrates behavioral progression from thoughts, to words, to actions. Using audience participation and real-life examples, this workshop on Race and Relational Aggression asks participants to consider the ways in which racial prejudice stands in the way of creating inclusive communities.

InspireYouth@Work Regional Summer Opportunity & Resource Fair

Wellness, Employment, Volunteering, Recreation, Sports, Entertainment, Education and Training

Keeping Your School Safe: What’s Being Done and Where Can We Improve

The session will provide an overview of how the state assists schools with their safety efforts. The session will also provide an interactive student Q and A session (utilizing Mentimeter) sharing their perceptions of school safety and enlist students to share how they believe school safety can be improved in our region.

LGBTQIA + Advocacy

This panel session will include an open discussion along with time for a brief Q & A about supporting and allyship of members of or friends of the LBGTQIA+ community. Participants will learn about safe spaces in schools, ways to become an ally or advocate, and how to find local and national resources.

Mental Health Matters

The prevalence of mental health concerns has risen globally since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the likelihood of knowing someone who is experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide. In this educational and interactive workshop, teens will learn about common mental health concerns that affect young people, actions steps to help support a friend, and the importance of self-care.

Photography To Life

In this session, students will explore how to use photography as a form of self-care and how to connect with others through photography. With the right mindset and a little encouragement, anyone can start using a camera — be it a smartphone, Instax, or high-end DSLR — to tap into the wellness benefits of creativity. Once you get the hang of taking intentional photos, you can go deeper with photography as a tool for self-exploration and expression. This session will include images of photography that evokes emotion, youth encouragement, an interactive activity, and a Q&A session.

Reach In, Reach Out: Connect to Protect

This session will tell the story of human connection, from the dual perspective of lived experience and neuroscience. After a 15 minute presentation, we will breakout for an interactive, 30 minute group activity centered on reaching into our own resilience, and reaching out to connecting with our peers.

Substance Abuse: Ending the Stigma

This session will kick off with a slideshow of Scott Zebrowski’s background and what led to his addiction, educate the teens about drug use/dangers of Fentanyl, followed by interactive activity followed by Q+A and resources available discussion.

Telling my Story

This session will include the events of the life of Zenobia Bey in hopes to inspire, empower and provide an example to teens that they can accomplish whatever they put their minds to. The session will remind them that they do not have to be a product of their environment despite experiencing patterns of violence and impacts of living in the City of Richmond in the ‘80s and 90’s when it was the #Number Capital in the Nation. It will allow them to learn how to turn their pain into power and the importance of knowing how to tap into their higher self to be the best human they can be.

The Culture

This panel session will explore youth perspectives on social media, music, movies, and gaming and how it is affecting themselves and their peers. Students will be asked the following questions: What do you watch/ consume? How do these things affect the culture? How does it influence your generation? How can adults better support you? What is your personal culture/ what types of things do you subscribe to/ what content speaks to you? What activities are you involved in at home, in the community, or at school?

Calm Room

Mindfully Safe Space

Open Experiences: Capturing Our Voices

Options include: Podcast, Art Installation and Ideas for the Future.

Explore these open Experiences during transition times throughout the day.