Greetings
all,
Putting together a new office has
certainly kept us busy this month in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Nonetheless, the slow days of summer have provided a prime
opportunity to do a little house cleaning. As we have gone through old files and
destined them for archiving or recycling, one find has become a favorite
distraction of mine: a pile
People
Soup issues from the 1970s.
People Soup was the official publication
of Liberal Religious Youth (LRY). Reading through the faded newsprint gives a
glimpse of the ways in which Unitarian Universalist ministry with young people has changed
over the past thirty years and the ways in which it has stayed the
same.
Of course, one thing that has
changed is how we communicate. We no longer have
People Soup, Synapse or
Ferment. Instead, Unitarian
Universalists and their communities are using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more to creatively
express themselves and post helpful resources online for the whole world to
read! The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia is even beta testing
their new website using the social networking platform
Ning.
S. Craig Watkins explores the new
ways younger generations are communicating in the Unitarian Universalist
Association's Beacon Press book,
The Young
and the Digital: What Migration to Social-Network Sites, Games, and Anytime,
Anywhere Media Means for Our Future. From Beacon
Press:
Timely and deeply relevant, The Young and the Digital covers a host of
provocative issues-the influence of social sites like MySpace and Facebook; the
growing appetite for "anytime, anywhere" media and "fast entertainment"; how
online "digital gates" reinforce race and class divisions; how technology is
transforming America's classrooms--and takes a fresh look at the pivotal role
technology played in the historic 2008 election. Watkins also debunks popular
myths surrounding cyberpredators, Internet addiction, and social isolation. The
result is a fascinating portrait, both optimistic and cautious, about the coming
of age of the first fully wired generation.
Before you think that this book is
just another attempt to teach older generations how young people use technology,
let me assure you that the insights and research Watkins presents will wow
readers of any age. The book is due out next month and you can
pre-order your copy directly from Beacon. For more, check out this
video about the book.
I encourage you to read this new book that will help Unitarian
Universalist congregations reach out to young adults everywhere. Moreover,
you'll be supporting Beacon Press!
In
faith,
Erik B.
Kesting
UUA Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Director
