outreach to young adults canadian unitarian council acm may 2005
TRANSCRIPT
Outreach to Young AdultsCanadian Unitarian Council ACMMay 2005
Goals for Participants
• View young adults as a potential target for growth efforts
• Learn methods of doing young adult-targeted outreach
• Gain tools and program ideas• Learn about resources available from
the UUA to help you
Why Outreach?
• We have something unique and powerful to offer the world
• We want to be an influential public voice on issues that matter to us
• New people keep our living tradition vital
Why Young Adults?
• Ideas, energy, creativity, passion
• Leadership for the present and the future
• Young adults are often under-represented in our congregations
Who is YA outreach meant for?
We are seeking….
• Young people who grew up UU and who are no longer connected to a congregation
• Young people seeking a faith that lets them be who they are; a faith with more than one possible “right” answer
• People trying to match what they do with their values
• Young people seeking a faith grounding for justice work
• People in their first jobs and careers• Young couples in new relationships• New parents
Young Adults are Seeking Us
• The young adult period is a time of great transitions
• Many young adults are seeking a liberal religious home that is non-judgmental and makes sense
Some Hard Data from the US
• 80% of first-year university students are interested in spirituality
• 76% searching for meaning and purpose
• 48% describe their spiritual outlook as “seeking,” “conflicted,” or “doubting”
Outreach Focuses on Needs
• Effective outreach first takes into account the needs of the groups you’re hoping to attract
• What are some needs that all young adults will share?
• What are the different needs of different groups of young adults?
Young Adult Needs
• Respect for the experience that they have
• Need to be treated as adults
• Understanding that they are in a transitional period of life
• Intergenerational community
New U*Us
• Develop a strategy for welcoming all newcomers to your congregation• Don’t assume someone is a
new UU just because they are young
• Need to be welcomed into your congregation
• Need to learn about U*Uism
• Need us to watch “insider” language that is exclusionary
Young Adult Families
• Child care or children’s programming at events
• YA parent and family-oriented events
• Child-friendly events• Invitation to an
excellent RE program• Time to be with other
adults• Programs focused on
parenting and spirituality
U*Us from Elsewhere
• Need to be respected as people not new to our faith
• Invitations to leadership in your congregation
• An understanding of what they found meaningful in their previous congregation
Outreach Requires Shifting Attention
• Outreach requires us also to look outside of our walls at the communities around us
• Attracting people different from the ones we already have challenges us to live our theology
Your Community & Young Adults
• Where do young adults gather in your community?• What shops, cafes,
restaurants, bars, etc. do young adults frequent?
• What are popular venues for live music?
• What neighbourhoods tend to attract young adults?
• What are media in your community that young adults use for information?
Demographics
• Demographic studies let you find out about your congregation’s community in new ways
• Possible variables include age, demographic segment, faith involvement
Gathering Events
• What are the hot issues in your community?
• What do we as UUs have to say about them?
• Hold an event that will attract community attention
Outreach Needs a Plan
• Forms of Outreach to put in your plan include:• Advertising• Print materials• Press outreach• Electronic outreach• Networking (person-to-
person outreach)
Advertising
• Place advertisements in local media
• Can include newspaper ads (both display and classified ads work), radio spots and even TV
• Independent media likely to attract young adults often have affordable rates
Print Materials
• Produce colorful, high-quality publicity material
• Pamphlets and flyers can be distributed to various places in the community
• Be aware of who your audience is and why they might be attracted to your congregation
Using the Media Effectively
• What local media will attract young adult attention?
• How can you get publicity for things you are doing?• Press releases• Op-Ed Pieces• Letters to the Editor• Engagement with
making change (and thus making news)
Using Electronic Media
• Attractive, updated web sites are an effective way to reach out to young adults
• Use e-mail, but be aware of “death by email” phenomenon
• Electronic media exclude those without access
Networking
• One-on-one communication is the most effective outreach
• Most people find our congregations because they are invited by friends
• Partnerships with justice organizations can be very effective as outreach tool
Making An Outreach Plan
• An outreach plan should have:• An understanding of
your target audiences and how best to reach them
• An understanding of how you are going to use several different outreach media
• Timelines associated with various parts of the campaign
• Point people for each part
• Evaluation methods
Outreach Requires Programming
• Successful outreach requires programming in the congregation
• A balanced model has 3 elements:• Worship and spiritual
growth as the center of your program
• Opportunities for social interaction (fellowship) and community building
• Opportunities for social justice and service to the wider community
Small Group Ministry
• Covenant groups offer a chance to build relationships
• Groups include spiritual, social and service components
• “Touch Groups” familiar to many youth
• Small Group Ministry model is adaptable
Making Connections
• Invite young adults to fuller participation in your congregation
• Connect young adults to intergenerational programs
• Have an intentional path to membership for young adults
Getting Help with YA Outreach
• Consulting• Training• Grants• Print and Video
Resources• On-line resources
and resources for electronic outreach
Consulting Resources
• Staff and trained consultants available
• In-person consultations and workshops custom-designed for your needs
• Consultants work with your congregation over the course of several months
Training Resources
• Regional Campus Ministry Trainings
• Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Trainings
• YA Leadership Development Weekends
Grants
• Program grants up to US$500
• Billings Fund grants up to US$2000 for events
• All require honor proper financial support of the CUC on behalf of the congregation
Print and Video Resources
• Available from UUA Bookstore• Curricula• Guides• Pamphlet• Videos—including
new video out in June
• Posters and brochures available from YA&CM office
On-line Resources
• Covenant Group Resources• Free curricula and
manual available for download
• Code of Ethics for Peer Leaders• Includes educational
materials on how to implement and use it
• Code available with standard Canadian spelling
Database and E-mail Lists
• ConnectUU: Online database• www.connectuu.co
m
• Register your group and events here
• On-line event registration
• Free E-mail list hosting• newlist.uuyan.org
www.uuyan.org
Contacting the YA&CM Staff
• My contact information:• 919-949-1158 (cell)• [email protected]
• Boston-based Staff:• 617-948-4273
• Website:• www.uuyan.org