Centering Their Voices: Youth Speak Out on the Impacts of Pandemic

Event Registration: Free for all Parents, Practitioners, and Youth

August 13, 4-6pm Pacific

Online only via Zoom

Facilitators: Dawn Menken Ph.D and Aviva McClure M.Ed

Participants: Youth Collective Facilitators (ages 14-19) and Education Practitioners

CE Credits available for Educators and Counselors

To receive a Continuing Education Certificate for attending this event please:

Purchase a CE ticket below and

Register for the event here.

Come join us in this unique forum and hear the voices, feelings, and learnings from our youth. How have they fared during the pandemic? Where do youth want to activate our attention and action? How have they been impacted and/or participated in the protests and Black Lives Matter movement? Youth will share their experiences with regard to health, relationships, inequities, social justice, dreams, and meaningful experiences. This forum invites educators, counselors, parents, and community leaders to learn what our youth have been thinking about during these times and gives educators more insight to prepare when we gather again in classrooms or engage in future on-line learning.

Youth will share how they have drawn upon their own power and experiences as they step into leadership positions to bring us their perspective.  This collective of youth will meet for 3 sessions with youth leadership practitioners and cultural workers to provide format and content for the culminating video conference forum on August 13th. We expect this final, free workshop to be a gathering of educators, counselors, and global activists in a direct process to inform practice NOW.

We look forward to learning and gaining more insight directly from student voices to support all community intersections to create a more compassionate world. This event is open to free participation of educators, mental/ social health practitioners, parents, and youth. Our Turn also partners with Teens Rise Up at the Process Work Institute for continuing education credit. We look forward to hosting an event that will also have both local and international access!

Professional Development for Teachers, Administrators and Counselors (LPC) – register below to receive a certificate for CE credits

About the facilitators

Aviva McClure, is a licensed youth and adult educator, currently acting as a school coach with the Regional Arts and Culture Council and through their own consulting firm called Our Turn. They have worked as a classroom teacher, art teacher, and assistant principal in Portland Public schools, focusing on leadership for Racial and Gender Equity and Transformative Justice. They also have experience working with artists and activists in our community that seek to engage with youth. Advocacy is a passion, and frequently collaborate with organizations in Portland that offer experiential learning and support services to LGBTQ youth and marginalized populations. They reside in North Portland with their son who is a Jefferson High School student. In their free time, Aviva can be found in their ceramics studio throwing on the wheel or out on muddy Oregon trails.

Dawn Menken, Ph.D., is a conflict resolution educator, counselor, facilitator, and workshop presenter. She is a senior faculty member in the graduate program at the Process Work Institute in Portland, Oregon and was co-creator of its masters programs, serving as academic dean for ten years. She is the creator of Teens Rise Up (TRU), a cutting edge program that empowers and educates young people to step into their leadership, engage in honest dialogue, and co-create a more welcoming school community. She is the author of the award winning book, Raising Parents Raising Kids: Hands on Wisdom for the Next Generation. A dynamic teacher with a sharp mind and playful spirit, Dawn enjoys working with people from all cultures and backgrounds.  For more information see her website: www.dawnmenken.com