Nearly 150 energetic young people from 15 clusters throughout Washington, D.C., Virginia and West Virginia gathered together from August 8th to 10th in Crystal City, Virginia to reflect on progress made since last summer’s youth conference and to renew and extend our efforts to “build the world anew”.
The three days of reflection, consultation and planning were marked by a festive spirit and a keen sense of mission.
The majority of this year’s participants came as members of a group from their neighborhood or cluster, with the benefit of a year’s worth of experience learning to form and grow circles of friends dedicated to spiritual empowerment and social action.
Music and the arts flourished as groups found creative ways to express their understanding of the concepts at the heart of this global movement: the role of youth as agents of social change, the immense potential of junior youth, the nature of veritable friendships, building vibrant communities and contributing to the advancement of civilization.
The participants contributed a diverse range of talents to the gathering’s daily activities: devotions, plenaries, large and small group breakouts and nightly creativity workshops. It was clear how mutual support and loving fellowship can inspire universal participation.
Plans were made and dates were set for our next steps. Goals included forming new junior youth groups, study circles, children’s classes, devotions and social events. Four of the participants are arising to pioneer to clusters where the institute process has yet to be established.