Permanent link for Kaufman's Youth Programming Embodies Flexibility While Invigoratingly Inspiring Our Community | By Zahabia Ahmed-Usmani, Youth Program Manager on September 17, 2024

Working at a nonprofit consists of constant ups and downs, so we have learned to embrace change. Timing things perfectly, or planning events with just the right mix of educational content and interactive experience while being mindful of your audience are just a few of the considerations Kaufman keeps top of mind when event planning. With youth programming the list is even more complex. I think we all know how hard it is to motivate teenagers to do anything! So, if I were to use one word to describe youth programming it would be “flexibility.”  And then when we get them in the room- my second word would be “invigorating!” Kaufman’s youth programming has embodied flexibility while invigoratingly inspiring our community!

Kaufman’s youth programming consists of two main programs. The Summer Interfaith Service Day Camp and a co-curricular Interfaith Leadership Scholars Program. In June we planned our Summer Interfaith Day Camp for middle and High School students. However, due to a number of school districts not taking their snow days and ending school early, and our funder obligations which forced us to push back the week we held our camp, our registrations were extremely low. While we canceled our Day Camp we incorporated our youth voices into our June Interfaith Convening - Critical Hope: Envisioning the Future of Interfaith. State-wide Interfaith leaders heard from Kaufman Scholars, GVSU student interns, and Michigan Youth Faith Advisory Council Members on an Youth Interfaith Panel. Youth were specifically asked about fostering inclusive spaces, creating awareness of blind spots in interfaith relationships, and where they saw potential in the interfaith movement. The audience left with multiple takeaways including better understanding of neurodivergent populations, accessibility considerations in spaces, inclusion of traditions beyond the Abrahamic, inclusion of younger age populations on committees and boards, and much more.

Most recently, the Kaufman Institute launched the 6th year of our Interfaith Leadership Scholars Program. This year we have 15 students from west Michigan representing the Agnostic, Atheist, Christian, Jewish, and Sikh traditions. At our first meeting on Sunday, September 15, Scholars were able to meet one another and build trust via team building activities facilitated by Adventure Point. Each of the students in this program comes into the program with a different motivation. Some have been harmed in religious spaces or found them unwelcoming but enjoyed the idea of community they felt in them and wanted a space to do something productive with other youth. Some want a platform to gain leadership skills and network with others. Some are looking to build cross-cultural understanding and geek out on learning about different religions and worldviews. But the core purpose of the group is leadership development and interfaith cooperation with the ultimate goal that the students will execute a community impact project of their choosing. As we begin the year, establishing trust, building our community environment, and learning about our strengths and skills will be our focus. While we have about ten returning Scholars and five new Scholars, based on our meeting over the weekend I can tell that we have started to establish roots that will grow deeper over the next few meetings. One of my favorite moments was when one of the new students asked his small group, “So what languages does everyone speak?” Totally normal west Michigan question right? In the upcoming months I look forward to updating you on some of the leadership curriculum and experiences we have as a group and how the youth continue to invigorate Kaufman onward into the future. 

Kaufman Scholars engage in activities

Kaufman Scholars participating in Paper Airplane Company activity.

Kaufman Scholars participating in Bull Ring activity.

Posted on Permanent link for Kaufman's Youth Programming Embodies Flexibility While Invigoratingly Inspiring Our Community | By Zahabia Ahmed-Usmani, Youth Program Manager on September 17, 2024.