Thrive: Leadership Schools for Youth and Young Adults of Color

*REGISTER NOW!* 2020 Thrive Youth will be held throughout July. Registration is open with a priority deadline of June 15th, with registrations accepted on a rolling basis until the event is filled.

"Being able to bond with other people of color within the UU faith was honestly something that brought joy and hope to my heart, and makes me feel much more connected in my faith.”
—Rhea, alum 2015

"I am grateful for you and the UUA for giving him the space to openly discuss and gain insight with other UUs of color. I think this experience has changed his perspective on whether he fits in this faith.  He is now 'one of many' instead of being 'the one.'" 
—Laura, parent of alum

About Thrive Youth

Thrive 2020 is coming to you!

Join other Unitarian Universalist Youth of Color (People of African Descent, Caribbean, Native/American Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latina/o and Hispanic, Middle Eastern/Arab, and Multiracial) for a month-long series to deepen connections to community, place and purpose. Thrive participants will be guided by experienced co-facilitators as we worship, play, and explore the communities we come from, engage the histories of the communities we visit and practice the transformative leadership skills into which we are called by our histories, faith and communities.

So we aren’t gathering in person? What will we do then?

Well, we’ll do some of the same things we do in person. We’ll worship and sing and share stories together- but it will look a little different. Then, we’ll do some of the things on our own with some guidance from Thrive Staff.

Over the month, we’ll have

- 1 Covenant check in
- 2 worships
- 2 story circles
- 2 community sings
- 2 workshops
- 3 opportunities for self-guided exploration

Stay tuned for more specific dates as they are announced!

Thrive Youth is for any youth of high school age who is in 9th-12th grade during the 2018-2019 school year (or the equivalent for homeschooled). It’s also open to any youth who bridges into young adulthood in the summer of 2019.

For young adults 18-35 see Thrive Young Adult!

This year, as the struggle for racial justice lives on in our streets and classrooms, in courtrooms and corner stores, Thrive invites you to come get connected to our stories and hone the skills to get engaged!

Register for Thrive Youth

The two-part registration process includes an online form and a letter of recommendation.​​

Cost of Thrive Youth

The cost to participants for Thrive Youth 2019 is $325, which covers all programming, lodging and food. Through the generosity of our donors, the Annual Program Fund and the Alumni Giving Program, some need-based financial assistance and travel subsidies are available.

You will not pay when you register; we'll let you know the calculated financial assistance you are granted, then you will have one month to pay your registration fee or arrange a payment plan. 

Parent/Guardian Questions

If you have a special situation, please contact us at youth [at] uua [dot] org or 617-948-4355 and we'll be glad to put you in touch with the lead coordinator for the event to discuss your youth's issue and how we can ensure they get the most out of their experience with the least amount of worry for you.

Learn More About Thrive Youth

Check out these reflections from alumni about their experiences:

• My Voice, My Experiences and My Journey by Byron Herbert '14
• Not the Only One by Aisha Pierre '11
• Daughter, Arab-American, Person of Faith by Ranwa Hammamy '11 and staff '14, '15
• Lifting UU Voices: Anger Welcome by Kenny Wiley '15
• Voices from #MLS2015: Radiating Love by Sunshine Alvarez ‘15
• Voices from #MLS2015: I, too, am Unitarian Universalism by Yashasvi Janamanchi ‘15 

Staffing for Thrive

Thrive Youth programs are staffed by UU religious professionals of color with years of experience. This year, Thrive will be staffed by India Harris, Tyler Coles and Eric Huang- with special guest facilitators. 

Sponsors of Thrive Youth

Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Ministries and Faith Development and Multicultural Growth and Witness Staff Groups and the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA).

History of Thrive

Thrive is the newest iteration of the many ways that UU youth and young adults of color have gathered to nurture leadership and sustain spirits. In the past, through Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) youth and young adult gatherings, Leadership Development Conferences and Multicultural Leadership School, UU youth and young adults of color have gathered to form lifelong connections, carve out belonging, create practices of resilience and healing and build skills to lead.