Connect with youth activists passionate about inclusion and justice from across the US and Canada in April 2025!
YCD is thrilled to announce the first-ever National Virtual Diversity Conference for Youth, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, 2025! This two-day event will bring together youth and supportive adults from across the United States and Canada working toward inclusion and justice in their communities, and provide a springboard for action!
Who Should Attend
The conference is open to all youth and supportive teachers/adults from across the United States and Canada. In particular, this event is a great opportunity for groups such as:
- Diversity or multicultural student clubs
- Student councils
- Peace/conflict resolution-focused organizations, including PeaceJam and Interact
- Religious student organizations interested in exploring interfaith dialogue and positive social change
- Clubs celebrating specific student ethnicities, including Black Student Alliance, Latinx or Hispanic student clubs, Native/Indigenous student clubs and others
- Gender/sexuality-focused student groups, including gay-straight alliances
- Female empowerment student clubs
- Peer counselors
- Deaf students and their allies, including ASL signing clubs
- Disabled students from all backgrounds
- Creative writing and performance student groups, including poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, dance and other clubs
- Students from a local youth organization, even if they attend different schools
- ANY group of teens interested in improving their school’s culture or making a positive change in their community
Note youth ages 13 and younger must have documented parental/guardian permission in order to participate.
Technology
This Conference will leverage the Zoom platform for all sessions. Any participant can download and install Zoom on their phone or computer free of charge. Prior to the conference weekend, each attendee will be sent personalized Zoom links for their sessions throughout the event. If you have questions or concerns about technology requirements to join this event, contact us.
Schedule
We’ve heard from our youth that the traditional one-day conference format does not work in a virtual setting, so this conference is split over two days, limiting each day to no more than three hours of screen time, with significant breaks each day. You can also download a printable version of the event schedule.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Online Arrival 9:45 am PT / 12:45 pm ET
Everyone joins a Zoom webinar in preparation of Opening Ceremonies!
Day 1 Welcome and Opening Ceremonies 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET
We hear from a notable keynote speaker with an inspiring message related to inclusion and justice, as well as view cultural performances by students across the country!
Break 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET
Time for everyone to take a mental break, whether to eat some lunch or just step away from the computer.
Discussion Groups 11:30 am PT / 2:30 pm ET
Students join a discussion group to talk about diversity and social issues with other youth from across the country. Meanwhile, adult mentors gather to have their own discussions related to professional development and supporting youth-led clubs/groups.
End of Day 1 1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Day 2 Welcome and Opening Ceremonies 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET
See additional cultural performances and a welcome from our youth co-chairs.
Workshop A 10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET
Both students and adult mentors attend a workshop of their choice. Workshops focus on a variety of themes, including gender, class and poverty, race and ethnicity, sexuality, disabilities, mental wellness, and conflict resolution.
Break 11:30 am PT / 2:30 pm ET
Time for everyone to take a mental break, whether to eat some lunch or just step away from the computer.
Workshop B 12:00 pm PT / 2:00 pm ET
Everyone attends a second workshop of their choice.
Closing Ceremonies 1:15 pm PT / 4:15 pm ET
We finish the conference by hearing from an exceptional musical performer.
End of Conference 1:45 pm PT / 4:45 pm ET
Workshops
Workshops for this event will be determined by input from YCD chapters across the country! Below are examples from past YCD conferences and events. We will post the official list of workshops for this event no later than February 17, 2025.
Bystanders vs. Upstanders
When you witness an oppressive incident, will you be a bystander or an upstander? Students will learn about the role of an upstander and the value of being an upstander vs. a bystander.
Character Counts: Not Judging People
Let’s have a discussion about students who may be “different” than their peers. Using a hands-on demonstration, we will also talk about not labeling ourselves or one another. Not judging people is harder than it may seem; do you have what it takes?
Exploring Interfaith Cooperation for Social Justice
Participants explore how Muslims and Jews (and people from other religious traditions) can work together across identity for social justice.
How to Pay for College without Going Broke
Is paying for college scaring you from applying? Does the financial aid process freak you out? In this session, we talk about in-state tuition, grants, scholarships and loans, and share some creative ways to save money and pay for college.
Human Trafficking of Youth
Youth and young adults hold specific vulnerabilities directly tied to their identity. These vulnerabilities connect to age, adult authority relationships, access to economics, sexual and gender identity, race, color, education, etc. This training will explore the root causes of the crime of human trafficking and the inequalities that can lead to trafficking, to help participants recognize the realities of human trafficking.
The Instagram Effect
Together, we will explore the ways that Instagram affects high school aged girls (14-19 years old) and their developing body image. During this workshop, two current students will provide insight on the effect Instagram has on them. Additionally, The Instagram Effect will provide tools and techniques to utilize social media in positive ways to resist harmful messages, foster healthy self-esteem, and encourage body positivity in young girls.
Locker Room Talk
What is “locker room talk”? How can we create a positive culture in the locker room and athletics more broadly for everyone? Topics will include the importance of language, derogatory remarks, casual homophobia, bullying, privacy, and more. Students will be provided a toolkit to become ambassadors for a healthy environment in this susceptible school space.
Navigating Diversity Backlash
This workshop is an interactive conversation about why there is resistance to equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts and how to work through the backlash. Learners will engage in dialogue and activities (role-play is one) to come away with strategies on how to address diversity backlash when they are faced with resistance to their work in social and racial justice.
Sex, Gender and Sexuality
This workshop provides youth with an overview and understanding of the differences among biological sex or sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation as well as some common gender-related terminology.
A Student’s Guide to Handling Depression, Anxiety and Stress
Students will learn about the neuro-biological basis of emotion, and participate in a positive discussion about depression, anxiety, and stress. Special emphasis will be placed on psychological tools to cope with difficult thoughts and emotions—something that everyone has! Local psychologists will provide you with some useful strategies on how to boost your happiness quotient!
You Mean, There’s RACE in My Movie?
Why is it so difficult to get people to see “eye to eye” on matters of race? Well, in this session, we get our diverse audience to share a common perspective — mainstream movies! Learn specifically how to identify the six primary character patterns occupied by minority characters in mainstream movies and how to use these patterns to leverage more substantive and meaningful dialogues about race at school, home or within the community. You will NEVER see movies the same way again!
Registration
Groups
Established youth clubs and groups are encouraged to register as a chapter of YCD, which includes attendance at this Conference as part of their annual membership, in addition to numerous other benefits!
Individuals
Are you interested in joining this event but don’t belong to a YCD chapter or existing group? Contact us for help in starting one or to discuss how you can still join this unique event.
Contact Info
Caleb Munro
Executive Director
Denver, Colorado
(720) 507-0746
cmunro@ycdiversity.org