Article and photos by Urban Alliance staff.

Urban Alliance was packed with youth and youth leaders last weekend, who participated in the Youth Empowerment Institute (YEI), facilitated by World Vision, and that was offered through UA’s Next Generation initiative. The training provided youth ministries with tools to empower young people, increase effective collaborative efforts between youth and adults, engage more meaningfully within the community, and have an eternal impact on the lives of those they serve.

Urban Alliance has offered grant support for these organizations to develop a youth-led project to impact the local community in a meaningful way.

Rosaciela Rodriguez, Urban Alliance’s Director of Implementation, Children & Youth Initiatives, shared, “The overwhelming participation of the youth during the open discussions was a testament that the concepts and best practices shared via the Next Generation initiative and YEI has influenced the way leaders engage with their children and youth. It’s impressive to see how leaders have given this emerging generation a platform to raise their voices and speak their mind, and have affirmed their worldview and ‘different’ approach to ministry.” 

Click here to visit our Facebook page and view more photos from the 2016 YEI training.