Let me start by saying…I love the events we do at YS. I think YS, as a big tent, convenes the best and most diverse group of youth workers who share a passion for helping teenagers follow in the way of Jesus.
But if you’re like me when I go to a conventions or conferences some of the best moments are not the general sessions and seminars. Often I find energy at a convention to be the “in between” spaces like meals and breaks when paths cross and spontaneous meetings happen. Like, during a coffee break, that’s when the sparks fly!
How about an event that has “coffee break” energy?
A YS UnConference is designed around collaboration, discussion and relationships. It isn’t about lectures or training but rather about learning from each other, identifying and solving problems we share in the field of youth ministry. Rather than a person or committee planning the direction of the event from the top down, the event “self organizes” from the bottom up. The experts at a YS UnConference are the attendees (and yes, if you are doing youth ministry in any context, you are an “expert in the field”).
Sound good so far? Interested in hosting a 1-day event?
We have a limited number of weeks this Spring 2013 for me to facilitate 10 YS “UnConferences” across the US. There would be no cost to the host(s), just provide the space and some help organizing during the day.
If there is a group of three or so youth workers who would like to host an event, here is what you need to do:
1.) Form a hosting team of at least two other youth workers in your area
2.) Fill out the request form with your rationale and desire for doing the event
We'd like to find locations in the following metro areas: (we're a distributed team, so we think in terms of Time Zones)
Left Coast
Seattle/Portland
Sacramento
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Middle Earth
Denver
Kansas City
Memphis/Nashville
Birmingham
Louisville
Indianapolis
Cincinnati/Columbus
Chicago
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Right Coast
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Charlotte/Charleston
Atlanta
Orlando
