When I think of how the Y’s Emerging Global Leadership Institute (EGLI) program is preparing us to engage and support young people and thrive as changemakers, I think of the memories we make throughout this journey. Each of us comes from different backgrounds and communities with complex issues, but one thing we all brought to the table was a willingness to learn and fully experience the process. By doing that, we created memories to bring back to our homes that further changed us and those around us.
As a person who likes structure and planning, going out of my work comfort zone is not usually a welcome challenge, but it’s definitely one I’m glad I took by being in this program. I’m not simply speaking of the silly moments we had adventuring or playing camp games, but of the tough conversations we had as a group about important social issues and how each of us is working on projects to better those issues. Our experiences and learnings through don’t just stay in the program but are put into action by this group of some of the most determined and compassionate individuals that I have had the privilege to meet. The relationships we build here follow us through our own work when we may need advice, feedback or just a pick-me-up to help us keep moving towards sustainable change. The lessons and trainings we received and continue to receive through Y-USA, the CHANGE AGENTS curriculum and even the UN standards of sustainable change have taught us to see the world not only through our lenses but through a global lens of what youth face and how their perspectives affect the work we need to do.
Through in-person, online and mentoring support, we are afforded the uncommon opportunity to be in executive level groups and conversations that help us to better develop as leaders and individuals. I can personally say that my mentoring experience has been extremely helpful in showing me the ropes of the Y way of implementing initiatives, realistically setting me up for success with my project. The EGLI program reminds us that we are valued as team players in our roles at the Y and that our leadership saw something in us worth the investment of this leadership experience. As leaders and individuals, we are learning things here that are not only informing us on the here-and-now, but also teaching us to think in terms of sustainability and thus gain the skills necessary to thrive in the long term.
Another pivotal part of our experience is the opportunity to work on a project to implement in our Y’s community that works towards advancing our Y association’s diversity and inclusion work. This gives us insight into what goes into creating resources, like the Cultural Lenses and Dimensions of Diversity trainings from Y-USA. We get to experience the research and development considerations you must undertake to even begin such endeavors, not to mention the budget considerations we may not have ever had to consider. The community projects not only go towards our Global Leadership Certification but will hopefully create lasting impact in our community.
In conclusion, I believe that the memories we make during this process are going to be what truly impacts our ability to change and make change in our world. Whether it’s a conversation with a Y delegation from a country you never knew of or a lesson that changes your mindset, it’s the memories that we intentionally make that will define how we use EGLI to fully impact our youth and create change.
I, for one, have already been changed for good as a result, and, as my abuela would say, “Palante namas, nunca patras!”— Puerto Rican slang for “Moving ahead and never behind!”
