Last week, I wrote about the impact of the economy on our children and explored if there is an "upside" to the down turning economy for families. (read here). I received huge responses on Facebook links far and wide, as parents explored their feelings about the inherent value of cutting back on accustomed luxuries, and how our youth can surprise us with their vision and resiliency.
When it comes to handing the keys of our future to the next seven generations; are we pessimists or optimists? Are our teens and young adults going to be known as the "Lost Generation" or the next "Great generation?" Are we giving them the tools to dream, imagine, create and strive or simply buying their silence and complicity?
One thing I do know- give a kid the tools to shine, and sit back. A youthful passion for change is afoot in America. A new band of revolutionaries; stirring up a Boston Tea Party to buck 'King George' out, and create a new leadership of founding fathers. We may question their "Twittering" ways and "texting" mania, but they are a plugged in generation: completely networked for rapid fire change. If we give them the keys to drive a car that works, we are out of the ditch for sure.
I have two poignant examples to share with you about the incredible power of what our youth can do. First, check out this very short YouTube video made by Jonathan Reed, a film student at Columbia College called "The Lost Generation." It was entered in an AARP video contest called "U at 50," and won second place. Notice your emotional reaction and how it changes from the beginning to the end.
We can have it either way. Which is it going to be? Pessimism drains energy, optimism infuses energy. Our youth don't want to be burdened with the negative labels we put on them, it is our job to teach them how to fish, for our future's sake. Once we are brave enough to clear away the clutter of too much stuff, show them alternatives, and empower them to take a stand for what they believe in, we can rebuild America into something we are all proud of once again.
While there are plenty of youth addicted to TV and videos, with nary a desire to leave the couch save for grabbing some Doritos, there are plenty of others out there scorching a new trail to follow, if we dare.
My second gold nugget is Cassie Zito: a 17 year old youth from the rough neighborhoods in Hartford, Connecticut. She is anything but a "typical" teenager. Cassie and her family run a juice bar, organic eco-friendly store called The Green Vibration, and are about to open a "Sustainable Academy for Kids" with a summer youth activist program. They have passion enough for ten families. All around Cassie are peers who are in gangs, with daily doses of violence, yet she has transformed herself into a veritable force.
Cassie considers herself an activist, and has been working for years on sophisticated causes such as teaching youth about the dangers corporate consumerism, reducing the carbon footprint, and conserving resources. She leads a teen poetry slam monthly, and delivers a power point lecture for school assembly programs around the state called, "Living the Green Dream." She was selected to travel to Florida last year and participate in the Jane Goodall Institute's "Roots & Shoots" teen leadership program.
Dr. Goodall writes about her program and her passion for empowering our youth:
"Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very light, but to get to the light, they can break open brick walls. Imagine the brick walls are the problems we have inflicted on the planet. Hundreds and thousands of roots and shoots, hundreds and thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. You can change the world."
Currently, Cassie plans to travel to San Francisco for a paid summer internship with Corporate Accountability International to help with an initiative called "Think Outside the Bottle" campaign, to challenge the marketing muscle of the bottled water corporations. She chides that most of the water in bottles comes from the tap anyway. I asked her what she would say to other adults and youth her age who don't know how to begin making the world a better place.
"Think outside the box,"she said simply.
"Start seeing a bigger picture and stop being a drone through life. Think for yourself and not what everyone else is thinking about you. It's not about what you have or what you need, but what is necessary."
Pretty impressive. There is hope.
Tell us your stories of youth who have inspired you, and are "thinking outside the box". I'd love to hear and will try to feature some of them in an upcoming article. And, as always, I'd love your comments and always try to respond when possible.
Follow Kari Henley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/karihenley
Thanks for opening a conversation that is near and dear to my heart. I don't remember any day when I was around a young person when I wasn't inspired in some important way. They, like our elders, have always seemed to me like Wisdom teachers.
Thanks for these wonderful stories.
Love,
Cara
Putting our youth and elders together is never anything short of miraculous.... we must find more ways!
Thanks for shining a light on this generation of kids. Our future is our children and like any generation there are leaders emerging who will make their mark on our country. I only hope that we can get out of their way and let them think outside our box to make new dreams a reality.
Also thanks for sharing that wonderful video: WOW!
Dana
I'm all for empowering the youth...
Let us not forget that Gen Xers are the ones doomed to be the first generation to do worse than their parents.
There's only one lost generation, and it's us.
The Gen "X-ers" were in a most unenviable position folowing the huge progression of Boomers, that is true but no generation is without their triumphs and heroes!
Look at the dot com developers and those leading the green revolution-
Thanks for the post
Todays kids are growing up in a time that will give them "BACK-BONE" and a stronger sense of SELF, unlike the YOUNG REPUBLICANS of the Reagan years.
My nieces and nephews, along with my 5-year-old daughter, will actually benefit from these times and that is one good thing coming out of our countries deep problems. It's up to the parents to use todays hardships to paint a picture for the kids minds to absorb.
http://don-thibodeaux.fineartamerica.com/
http://mfdz.com/profile/1414/chart
The cycles of our economy and how it impacts the upcoming generations is a fascinating field of study. What is the magic recipe that helps them to rise to the top?
Naturally we want to protect them from the hardships life has to offer, and yet also empower them to find their own ability to contribute, make mistakes and offer their gifts to the world.
Thanks for writing.
i love your statement, Are our teens and young adults going to be known as the "Lost Generation" or the next "Great generation?" Are we giving them the tools to dream, imagine, create and strive or simply buying their silence and complicity?
Everyone should read this blog! Thank you-
Life is a gift a treasure to be enjoyed,
Ed
I love the fact that the featured contributors on the Living Page are forming a community together. If we were to combine this weeks' posts- we could have the Next "Great Generation" being "Yogi's" (NOT Rogi's) and dancing up a storm with Judith at the London Train station- how does that sound? ha
LOVE that you guys took the time to post a comment, it means a lot and I appreciate your support!
Kari
With appreciation and gratitude,
Anne
In fact, the inspiration for this piece came from a 17 year old, who read the piece last week and talked about all the things her generation is doing.
I also think it is inspiring to hear the creative strides our youth display leadership.
Thanks for the note!
kari
How great to see you featured here on the Living page! Congratulations!
I love this post! Thanks for sharing these inspiring stories and the video. I'd seen it before and it made an impact on me. A great tool to share here.
My own exposure to young people is somewhat limited, but I'll tell you this. When I volunteered on the Obama campaign last fall, I was so moved by the sight of young children and teens coming into the campaign offices and volunteering to make phone calls. There were so many of them. I listened to a 12 yr. old girl calling people to ask them to vote for Barack, and I thought to myself, if he can galvanize the young people to roll up their sleeves and work for his candidacy, he was headed for a huge victory.
As JFK said back in his 1961 inaugural address: "A torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans." And so it comes around again, this time to yet another new generation. The circumstances of their births and their lives are very different from those of the earlier generations, but perhaps their challenges are even greater, given what we're leaving behind for them to deal with.
I'd put my faith and trust in these young people, with Barack as the role model. I think our best days are yet to come.
Thanks for this inspiring contribution and keep on writing!
Judith
What a great birthday week for you! I do agree the upcoming generation could very well rise up and bring America back to greatness in invention, achievements, entrepreneurship and most of all- global citizenship. I am so impressed with the passion and intelligence these kids tackle issues most of us fear can never be solved.
Thank you so much for all your support!
Kari
Take care
kari