Since 2000, we have been converging annually for a three day celebration of political action, fierce youth brilliance, and do-it-yourself fun. The Youth Activism Gathering (YAG) is an event organized for and by teens and young adults, with support and suggestions from a few choice older activists.
We live in a region that is rich with politically conscious young people! However, these young activists are scattered across the state and are often cut off from one another. Growing up in Maine can be extremely isolating, especially if you feel passionate about progressive politics. Above all, the YAG seeks to create a space where activist youth can forge friendships. When we know we are not alone, that there are others that think and feel the things we do, we can identify ourselves as part of a community with shared struggles and shared passion. It is impossible to be an agent of change without the knowledge that we have both friends and allies to support us in our endeavors.
The YAG is a place for youth to share ideas, skills, and experiences. More than that, it is a place where we can find strength and companionship through the collective experience of gathering together. It is a place for us to find each other so that we can dance, sing, and fight, alongside one another.
The YAG is governed by the needs and desires of the youth and not dictated to us by any older folks. The YAG does provide the opportunity for youth activists to network with, learn from, and receive advice or guidance from older activists who respect us as peers and not merely as tokens.
We strive to be accessible, and one of the ways we can get everyone here is with carpool! If you can offer a ride or need one, please check out this link!
The Youth Activism Gathering includes an ever changing roster of fun activities and events. Past YAGs have featured:
– Group Icebreakers
– Creative Bake-Offs
– Dance Parties
– Punk Shows
– Workshops
– And more!
Some of this year's workshop and presentation topics will include:
– Consent 101
– Lessons From Nature in Decolonizing Conflict Resolution
– Unhoused Solidarity in Action
– Resist Mining in Maine
– Homelife skills
– Stop Cop City!
– Community Water Justice
...and more!
Examples of past workshops:
– Intersectionality
– Grassroots Media Making
– Safe Binding and Know Your Rights for Transgender Youth!
– Reproductive Health/Safe Sex
– Consent 101
– Anti-Oppression
– Climate Justice
– Earth First!
– Homophobia and Racism
– Herbal First Aid
and many more… everyone is encouraged to bring their own ideas for workshops or discussions!
The Youth Activism Gathering is sponsored by Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC) with organizing support from Pine Tree Youth Organizing (PTYO). To learn more, please click here to visit the ROSC website!
The YAG is a place for youth to share ideas, skills, and experiences. More than that, it is a place where we can find strength and companionship through the collective experience of gathering together. It is a place for us to find each other so that we can dance, sing, and fight, alongside one another.
The YAG is governed by the needs and desires of the youth and not dictated to us by any older folks. The YAG does provide the opportunity for youth activists to network with, learn from, and receive advice or guidance from older activists who respect us as peers and not merely as tokens.
We strive to be accessible, and one of the ways we can get everyone here is with carpool! If you can offer a ride or need one, please check out this link!
The Youth Activism Gathering includes an ever changing roster of fun activities and events. Past YAGs have featured:
– Group Icebreakers
– Creative Bake-Offs
– Dance Parties
– Punk Shows
– Workshops
– And more!
Some of this year's workshop and presentation topics will include:
– Consent 101
– Lessons From Nature in Decolonizing Conflict Resolution
– Unhoused Solidarity in Action
– Resist Mining in Maine
– Homelife skills
– Stop Cop City!
– Community Water Justice
...and more!
Examples of past workshops:
– Intersectionality
– Grassroots Media Making
– Safe Binding and Know Your Rights for Transgender Youth!
– Reproductive Health/Safe Sex
– Consent 101
– Anti-Oppression
– Climate Justice
– Earth First!
– Homophobia and Racism
– Herbal First Aid
and many more… everyone is encouraged to bring their own ideas for workshops or discussions!
The Youth Activism Gathering is sponsored by Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC) with organizing support from Pine Tree Youth Organizing (PTYO). To learn more, please click here to visit the ROSC website!
POTENTIAL AND PAST ACTIVITIES
Going For It: an experimental/amateur talent show
Going For It: an experimental/amateur talent show is an ongoing participatory performance and an exercise in bravery and community care. The event fosters a communal exchange rather than a typical performance dynamic by holding up both performer and audience as equal participants. Expertise is not necessary, and is perhaps even discouraged! Feel free to play the one song you know on guitar, lead the group in song for the first time, teach a skill, show and tell, or anything else that feels a little brave! The idea is to exercise your bravery muscles, and that might look big or small depending on who you are! And you get to decide that for yourself. For some people, being brave might just look like showing up.
This event is being hosted by Devon Kelley-Yurdin (they/them), an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and cultural organizer based in Portland, Maine. Devon started this project in 2017, guided by the belief that the changes that need to occur to create a more just and equitable world are going to require bravery, creativity, collective joy, radical vulnerability, and community support. Going For It is a way to bring this skill-building together in a playful way that can then be brought out into the world! More info can be found at: www.devonkelley-yurdin.com/goingforit
Clothing Swap
The Clothing Swap is going to be going on throughout the YAG, where people can bring in any clothing they don't wear anymore, and give it to someone who needs it! It can be clothes you no longer wear out of comfort with your identity, clothes that just don't fit, or clothes you've never worn before and are just clearing out!
Backpack Drive For Homeless Youth
Queer and trans people face astronomically high rates of homelessness and housing insecurity. This is particularly true among youth, many of whom are kicked out of their homes simply for being themselves. Many also face intersecting actors in housing insecurity- including poverty, legal status, disability status, abuse, and a lack of housing resources in rural regions. Homelessness leaves queer and trans youth at risk for sexual and domestic abuse, drug addiction, sexual exploitation, and physical violence.
We want to support those youth and young adults in our community and other communities facing homelessness. To do this, we are putting together backpacks filled with essential supplies and useful resources to help keep youth safe, warm, and connected to their support networks. We need help putting these packs together. If churches and community groups take on building a pack a piece, we can spread them out with the help of volunteers and partner organizations. More info (including donation lists) can be found at: https://www.mindfullyqueer.org/backpacks-for-homeless-youth
Going For It: an experimental/amateur talent show is an ongoing participatory performance and an exercise in bravery and community care. The event fosters a communal exchange rather than a typical performance dynamic by holding up both performer and audience as equal participants. Expertise is not necessary, and is perhaps even discouraged! Feel free to play the one song you know on guitar, lead the group in song for the first time, teach a skill, show and tell, or anything else that feels a little brave! The idea is to exercise your bravery muscles, and that might look big or small depending on who you are! And you get to decide that for yourself. For some people, being brave might just look like showing up.
This event is being hosted by Devon Kelley-Yurdin (they/them), an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and cultural organizer based in Portland, Maine. Devon started this project in 2017, guided by the belief that the changes that need to occur to create a more just and equitable world are going to require bravery, creativity, collective joy, radical vulnerability, and community support. Going For It is a way to bring this skill-building together in a playful way that can then be brought out into the world! More info can be found at: www.devonkelley-yurdin.com/goingforit
Clothing Swap
The Clothing Swap is going to be going on throughout the YAG, where people can bring in any clothing they don't wear anymore, and give it to someone who needs it! It can be clothes you no longer wear out of comfort with your identity, clothes that just don't fit, or clothes you've never worn before and are just clearing out!
Backpack Drive For Homeless Youth
Queer and trans people face astronomically high rates of homelessness and housing insecurity. This is particularly true among youth, many of whom are kicked out of their homes simply for being themselves. Many also face intersecting actors in housing insecurity- including poverty, legal status, disability status, abuse, and a lack of housing resources in rural regions. Homelessness leaves queer and trans youth at risk for sexual and domestic abuse, drug addiction, sexual exploitation, and physical violence.
We want to support those youth and young adults in our community and other communities facing homelessness. To do this, we are putting together backpacks filled with essential supplies and useful resources to help keep youth safe, warm, and connected to their support networks. We need help putting these packs together. If churches and community groups take on building a pack a piece, we can spread them out with the help of volunteers and partner organizations. More info (including donation lists) can be found at: https://www.mindfullyqueer.org/backpacks-for-homeless-youth
