The Stone Soup Leadership Institute is preparing for its first Virtual Youth Leadership Summit: June 20-26, 2020.  We are adapting the Institute’s Summit curriculum to a dynamic, virtual interactive learning experience.  This year we will have two locations — East Coast and West Coast — with speakers from the new book, Stone Soup for the Sustainable World: Life-Changing Stories of Young Everyday Heroes.  Youth delegates are from two public charter schools: New Bedford, Massachusetts and San Diego, California.

This unique week-long Summit inspires, educates, and empowers young people (ages 16-19) to envision their personal, professional, community and planetary goals. Featuring our global faculty, we expose their young minds to inspiring leaders, opening doors and expanding their horizons.  Youth delegates work with our faculty to use the Institute’s TouchStoneLeaders Platform’s Learning Tools to envision their dreams for their lives, their communities and the world.  On our Sustainable Tour, they experience first-hand the fragility of our planet. They learn from Emerging Leaders to become action-oriented and solutions-based. They design Sustainability Projects for their community. They put their dreams into action with their five-year plans. They learn how to troubleshoot challenges, make presentations and develop strategies to engage others. They develop videos to inspire others. They create online Sustainability Toolkits. They discover how they can help build a local green workforce. They are empowered to become representatives of their communities and lightning rods for positive change, creating a multiplier effect to build a new generation of leaders.

At this year’s Summit youth delegates will work with the Institute’s tech team to BETA test SustainWDN Pathways.  The Facilitators and youth delegates will work in small groups to test out 4 unique Career Pathways with youth delegates. To explore new opportunities in their community, they can access our online resources including Sustainability is Fun.  To engage them seeking career pathways in the Green-Blue Economy, we will feature STEM interactive activities including Virtual Sustainability Tours, videos, games, FlipGrid, TikTok videos and Sustainability-In-Action Projects.  SustainWDN Facilitators will be trained to work with their students during the Institute’s year-round program.

The Institute has hosted 15 Sustainability Summits in 2 countries and 4 unique communities: Vieques, PR, Virgin Gorda, BVI, Martha’s Vineyard and Newport, RI with youth delegates representing over 40 communities.

Youth Voices: Summit Highlights

Maddox: “The Summit was such an amazing opportunity. I enjoyed listening to all the speakers and talk about how they have used their voices to help spread awareness about climate change and pollution. One of my favorite things was the breakout sessions where we talked about career paths we want to follow. I learned a lot and I know more about the career path I want to take.”

Alex: “I think the speakers were good, getting to know people around us and what they’re doing. I liked Lilly’s because she’s so young and still doing stuff that even when I was that young didn’t do. So that was kind of an enlightening experience.”

Eriana: “I loved this Summit so much. I enjoyed everything: the speakers, the breakout rooms, the scavenger hunt, and I liked how the speakers got straight to the point. They made us learn more about the issues. I liked making the poster and making the videos. And I liked learning overall everything, the career paths in breakout rooms. I feel like I learned a lot during this Summit.”

Rebecca: “I have to say that this Summit was probably my highlight during quarantine. I really liked that we’re able to meet every one – you all had something nice to say, and had great advice. I really liked hearing the speakers from different countries. The workshops helped us learn more information about what careers we want to pursue in the future. And I feel like personally, it helped me a lot knowing what I want to do for college.”

Weslee: “I really enjoyed this opportunity so thank you to Ms. McPherson for letting us know. I really liked the workshops and the breakout groups and learning more about our careers. Also, with the scavenger, I really got creative with the pictures going outside too because I know that we’re on the computer all day, and we got a break to go outside which I really liked.”

Emily: “I‘d have to say the speakers. I really enjoyed Lilly’s speech, especially being so young. And I also liked Michelle. I like how she was growing her career as an actress but also helping the environment at the same time. I thought that was very inspirational how she’s able to balance those two things.”

Paige: “I really enjoyed this Summit. I’ve gotten more confident with my voice and just talking in general and I really enjoyed listening to all the speakers, especially seeing how all of them have different ways or similar ways of dealing with all the problems that we have and seeing how they’re trying to make the world a better place.”