Dean Application: Intergenerational Spring Seminar

Serve your faith and the community of the UU Office at the United Nations planning and leading the Intergenerational Spring Seminar.

The UU@UN is currently applications for Seminar Youth Deans! Applications are due August 9, 2022.

Position Description

The Deans are members of the Intergenerational Spring Seminar Planning Committee who help plan and coordinate activities for the Spring Seminar and lead the staff team during the Seminar. The Seminar Dean team includes two Youth Deans and one Adult Dean. They work with the UU Office at the United Nations staff, Seminar Chaplains, and the rest of the Seminar Planning Committee to ensure that all youth participants have an enriching and inspiring experience at Spring Seminar as, along with other participants, they engage with challenging topics of global concern relating to human rights and social justice at the United Nations. The 2023 Seminar theme is to be determined.

The Deans participate in choosing and coordinating programming, selecting additional staff, facilitating meetings, collaborating with other leaders on the Planning Committee, and making Spring Seminar the best it can be. Spring Seminar is a great opportunity for youth from across the country to meet others who are passionate about social justice and learn how to take action on a local and global scale.

The position of Youth Dean is a two-year position. Each new dean will serve alongside a youth dean from the previous year.

All expenses including travel, meals, housing, and registration at the Intergenerational Spring Seminar are paid for by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Additionally, there is a $400 (for each year) stipend offered for this position. Commitment expectations include:

  • Planning for and attendance at Spring Seminar, in New York City or online depending on public health guidelines. For Youth Dean applicants this includes Seminar 2023 (expected to take place April 2023, New York City or online) and Seminar 2024 (tbd).
  • Planning meetings by phone/video conference no more than once per week in the months preceding Spring Seminar (approx. Sept-Apr)

Primary Role

Deans take the lead on designing and coordinating programming for the Intergenerational Spring Seminar with a lens toward youth empowerment, inclusion, and safety. Work with co-Deans & Chaplains to set expectations for the Spring Seminar community and help them live into it.

In addition to the above which pertain to both Youth and Adult Deans, the following are also part of Adult Dean's primary role:

  • Support youth leaders, especially Youth Deans, in their work on the Seminar.
  • Identify any areas where tasks are being neglected or falling behind and ensure that those are resolved either by supporting youth to accomplish it or by picking up on slack.
  • Nurture the youth deans’ leadership and mentor them.

Specific Tasks & Goals

Deans’ Collective Tasks

  • Help recruit and select Chaplains & other leaders for the Seminar

  • Identify main goals for Seminar theme & programming

  • Determine overall Seminar Schedule & components based on Planning Committee goals

  • Organize and lead orientation, covenanting process, and any evening programming at the hostel for youth & sponsors

  • Work with Chaplains to lead process for adjusting & renewing covenant if necessary​

Adult Dean's Specific Tasks

  • Check in periodically with Youth Deans to ensure they’re staying on top of things and not getting overwhelmed – provide assistance as needed

    • Applies to both planning process and during the Seminar itself

  • Participate in Trajectory of Learning planning process, ensuring programs meet standards for youth inclusion & accessibility

  • Work with adult volunteers and sponsors to foster environment of empowerment and support for the youth, and meaningful learning culture for all

  • Conduct check-ins with Intergenerational Group Leaders during the Seminar to go over what they are observing in the community. Work with Chaplains, volunteers, & UU@UN Staff to take action accordingly

  • Participation in resolution of rule breaches along with UU@UN staff, senior youth dean, and adult chaplain.

Youth Dean's Specific Tasks

  • Be open in communicating hopes and concerns to co-Deans & UU@UN staff
  • Outreach to share Seminar announcements with other youth and recruit participants and leaders
  • Contribute ideas on how to make programming inclusive and engaging
  • Manage the Spring Seminar to ensure it is going smoothly, taking advantage of support from UU@UN staff, interns, and other volunteers
  • Lead bonding activities for youth and set an example for inclusion and respect in community
  • Participate in resolution of community covenant breaches along with chaplains & UU@UN staff
    • (Just senior youth dean) Participate in resolution of rule breaches along with UU@UN staff, adult dean, and adult chaplain

Application Requirements

Experience with multigenerational leadership teams is highly desired.

This event will take a broad and intersectional view of working towards justice – we hope that our Planning Committee will reflect the diversity of identities that exist in our world. People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ candidates are encouraged to apply.

Previous attendance at a UU@UN Intergenerational Spring Seminar is strongly recommended but not required.

Youth Dean Requirements

Applicants must be high school students (grades 9-12) or the equivalent for home-schooled youth for both years of their term, in April 2023 and 2024.

To Apply

Submit a completed application using the form below. The application includes responses to written questions and an optional video, as well as contact information for two references. Letters of recommendation are not required.

Dean Applications are due June 30, 2022.

For more information, please contact the UU Office at the United Nations at unitednations@uua.org.

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