Youth Forum
(previously named “Fun and Fellowship”
All high school age faith groups are invited to come and join with 80 to 100 other high school students from various faith traditions to participate in the Interfaith Council of Central Orange County‘s Annual Interfaith Youth Forum.
The purpose of this Interfaith Youth Forum is to bring together young people from diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, and to engage them in dialogue. True dialogue is a conversation on a common subject between two or more persons of differing points of view and/or backgrounds. This dialogue’s purpose is two-fold: first, for each participant to learn from the other so that he or she can understand and grow; second, for each participating adult to learn from the young what they think, what their concerns are, and how they deal with differing points of view. We feel that this commitment to dialogue will affect relationships in a constructive way in our places of worship and in our community.
The forum itself involves having eight high school-age kids and one adult youth leader around each table to discuss a common question. Our intent is to make each discussion group as religiously diverse as possible. Our youth leaders act as facilitators, but it is stressed that it is the students we want to hear from. The facilitator is there only to encourage the dialogue.
The event is planned to last all afternoon with breaks and a snack period as a part of the agenda. After a 20 to 25 minute discussion there will be an opportunity for each student to fill out a Student Synthesis form summarizing their reaction to the dialogue. In the Student’s packet there is also an evaluation form so that the students can give us feedback on the event and what, if any, suggestions they may have.
If you have any questions and or would like more information about the “Youth Forum” please contact me at:
Mike Penn
714/838-3979
