Hello from Elk Grove, Ca

[travisegumc]

Hi everybody,

I'm a Youth Director at Elk Grove UMC. We recently joined the Reconcilling Ministries of the UMC. I'm a student at UCD, and am graduating in December. Anybody have suggestions on how best to include Youth from 6th through 12th grade!

Yours in Peace,
Travis

[tdogg]

Hi there Travis and welcome to the forums!

I'm Tdogg from Sacramento. Lived in Elk Grove for a few years until a little over a year ago.

Where is the UMC church you attend? I don't currently attend church services, although there are at least two gay-friendly churches in my area. Maybe someday. What did you have in mind with the youth? I know one activity that I enjoy is birdwatching - nature and God go hand in hand. there are numerous places to enjoy nature and birds in the area. not sure if this is what you had in mind?

Anyway, glad you're here - it's nice to see another local on the forums!

[travisegumc]

Whoops, perhaps I should have been more specific. I was looking for ways to get youth involved in soulforce. But thanks for the suggestions!

EGUMC is located on Elk Grove Blvd off Highway 99.

[tdogg]

Yeah, I thought after I already posted it probably wasn't what you were looking for! Anyway, I'm sure there are ways - Equality Ride for the older youth?? Maybe PFLAG has some ideas as well.

Good luck with your venture!!

[kara speltz]

Hi everybody,

I'm a Youth Director at Elk Grove UMC. We recently joined the Reconcilling Ministries of the UMC. I'm a student at UCD, and am graduating in December. Anybody have suggestions on how best to include Youth from 6th through 12th grade!

Yours in Peace,
Travis

Hi Travis: I know you're looking for ways to get young folks involved in Soulforce, and I'm not exactly sure how to do that, except to really excite them about the possibilities of nonviolence. To that end, I recommend a fabulous video called, "Mighty Times - the Legacy of Rosa Parks." It's given free to teachers by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It comes with a study guide that helps kids really get a feel for what it was like to be Afro American in the South in her day. I highly recommend it.

Another awesome set of videos that will help young people see the power of nonviolence is "A Force More Powerful." It is a two set video with six separate pieces on the role of nonviolence in the South, Poland, Chile, the Phillipines and, of course South Africa.

Two other movies I would recommend are "Gandhi," and "Romero." I have two grandkids, 15 and 13, and it was through videos that I tried to educate them about these issues. Which reminds me of one other video I thought was awesome and it was put out by Disney, of all places. It's called, "Selma Lord Selma." Its the story of two 12 year old girls and the struggle in Selma. It's a tear jerker, because it doesn't hold back any of the violence, but it's done in a way kids can handle.

So, I guess what I'm recommending is to have a series of movies that kids would see and then perhaps end that series with the video, which should be out soon, on the Equality Ride. Given that there will be 2 busses this year going in two different directions, it may well be conceivable that one of the schools visited is near you. Hope some of this is helpful.

Kara