The Leading Across Generations session, part of the 2024 Special Olympics Global Virtual Youth and Educator Summit, left attendees both inspired and empowered. This session, held in collaboration between Special Olympics and the Global Nomads Group (GNG), showcased the remarkable capabilities of Youth Leaders in a dynamic and engaging manner. These young presenters delivered concrete, actionable content that not only offered valuable insights, but also fostered skill development among their peers and adult mentors across the globe.
"Planning this presentation was a wonderful experience. The youth designers brought so much valuable knowledge and insights about inclusion and how it intersects with ableism and ageism."
The youth designers brought a depth of understanding and commitment to the session, enriching the overall experience for all participants.
One of the session's standout themes was the emphasis on the benefits of partnering with youth-focused organizations. Such collaborations present an excellent opportunity to extend reach and amplify impact. Although aligning beliefs and standards across various organizations may take time and effort, the integration of social inclusion within these partnerships elevates all.
"As [youth] are in the process of being socialized into a world rife with injustice and unbalanced power, they are uniquely positioned to question the ways things have been done and the mental models adults use to explain the injustices of the world to themselves," McIntosh explained. "Their lived experiences serve as mirrors to societies, and the more they share those experiences with the generations that came before them, the more the older generations can work to improve the legacies they will be leaving."
The session highlighted the importance of adults and youth working together, promoting intergenerational learning. Such collaboration allows people of different ages to share their experiences, knowledge, and skills, thereby strengthening relationships between generations and improving the legacies passed down. "We hope that people went away from the session understanding why we need to address structural and attitudinal ableism and ageism and how we can address them," McIntosh added.
Instead of the usual emphasis on names, titles and locations, the Youth Leaders provided image descriptions. This accessibility accommodation ensured that individuals with visual challenges could fully participate, setting a new standard for reducing barriers in virtual engagements.
The Youth Leaders’ professionalism and attention to detail were evident throughout their presentation. They approached their roles with pride and a strong sense of responsibility, meticulously preparing and strategically thinking through every aspect of their contributions. This dedication was clear in their well-organized session, where presentation responsibilities were evenly distributed, exemplifying the power and effectiveness of collaborative leadership.
McIntosh noted the rapid grasp of new information by young people during the design process, as well as their ability to put that knowledge into action. "We valued how the audience recognized and valued the diverse views shared by our youth designers during our session."
The session was a testament to the potential and impact of youth-led initiatives. It not only highlighted the importance of inclusivity and partnership but also demonstrated how young leaders can drive meaningful change through thoughtful and strategic engagement.
Learn more about Global Nomads Group and the Content Creation Lab. Watch the entire session and any of the other 15 sessions from the, Global Virtual Youth and Educator Summit.
