Be an Emerging Adult Community Guide

The office of Lifespan Faith Development is looking for four Emerging Adults (18-24 years old) to volunteer to serve as Community Guides at the 2025 Baltimore General Assembly. Four guides will serve in-person in Baltimore and two will serve on-line as virtual guides.

What is the basic requirement to be a Guide?

GA Emerging Adult Community Guides should:

• Be 18-24 years old

• Be able to communicate via agreed messaging platform, email or Google Drive

• Be able to meet via Zoom (video conferencing can be done by phone as well) several times during the months prior to GA

• For the in person guides: arrive in Baltimore on Tuesday June 17th and plan to stay through Sunday morning

• For the virtual guides: Be available and present for programming Wednesday June 18 through Sunday June 22.

• For the virtual guides: Have reliable internet access and a device that can access multiple platforms.

• Demonstrate a commitment to Unitarian Universalism, community building, cultural competency, and collaborative leadership.

• Agree to and pass a background check

What does a Guide do?

Facilitating community experiences at General Assembly for Emerging Adults.

• Deeply grounded in the mission and vision of YEA at GA which is to provide youth and EAs opportunities to be agents of building beloved community through connecting with peers and being involved in the democratic process

• Rooted in interdependence — identifying collective needs

• Be well prepared to be responsive to what’s coming up in the moment

What makes a good Guide?

Through the orientation process, Guides will learn the following, it is helpful but not required for applicants to have some familiarity in these areas:

• Interpersonal & Relationship-Building Skills – Ability to connect with and engage EAs, build community, and foster belonging.

• Cultural Competency & Advocacy – Awareness of racial justice work, the needs of UU EAs of color/trans EAs/other marginalized groups, and a commitment to inclusion and equity.

• Group Facilitation Skills – Experience leading group activities, discussions, and community-building exercises.

• Creativity & Adaptability – Familiarity with spontaneous programming, emergent leadership, and responding to the needs of EAs in real time.

• Pastoral & Emotional Care Awareness – Ability to support peers in a caring and compassionate way, knowing when to connect EAs to chaplains and support teams.

• Collaboration & Teamwork – Willingness to work with EAs, UUA Staff, and various GA teams (chaplains, worship teams, DRUUMM, etc.).

• Safety Awareness – Basic understanding of and the ability to help create a safe and welcoming space.

• Engagement in UU Governance & Social Justice – Interest in UU democratic processes, the GA business agenda, and empowering EA delegates to participate in decision-making.

Is there compensation?

While this is a volunteer position, in appreciation for their time and contributions Emerging Adult Guides will receive:

• Complimentary Registration

• For in-person guides: Travel booked through the UUA or reimbursement for travel arrangements made on their own

• For in-person guides: Choice of individual or shared lodging at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor

• For in-person guides: Food allowance to cover breakfasts and snacks with lunch and dinner provided

• For virtual guides: a per diem to cover meals

• Honorarium in the amount of $500

Apply to Be a Guide

Are you interested? Sound like you? AWESOME!

Fill out the Emerging Adult Communict Guide Application! We ask for your contact information and then for you to upload a brief video or something written to tell us a bit about you, your experience with Unitarian Universalism and with the areas listed above as helpful, why you’re excited about GA, and what else we should know.