2007 YouthBuild USA Conference of Young Leaders

March 1-3, 2007 pre-event Rural Caucus
March 3-5, 2007 Conference of Young Leaders
March 6, 2007 for Capitol Hill Day

Marriott at Metro Center
Washington, DC

Rural Caucus
General Conference Information
Delegate Preparation
Capitol Hill Day
Important Documents to Download

YouthBuild USA is pleased to announce our 2007 YouthBuild USA Conference of Young Leaders to be held from March 3rd to 5th at the Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, DC. The Rural Caucus will take place March 1st to the 3rd before the conference and Capitol Hill Day will occur March 6th after the conference.  The Marriott at Metro Center is now a smoke free hotel.

We invite you to register up to two delegates that are/will be 18 years of age by March 1, 2007 to represent your organization for this event.  We are able to accommodate on a first-come-first-serve basis only.  The registration deadline is Wednesday, January 31, 2007.  We recognize this is a short turn around time; but receiving your registration(s) by that date helps secure the least expensive transportation fares for your delegates, plus, meets the hotel's registration deadline.

Organizing a large conference, such as this, is an expensive undertaking.  We ask our operating sites to be responsible for the registration fee of $225 per delegate to help cover some of the costs.  (The registration fee must accompany a signed Delegate Conduct Form in order to complete registration.)  Changes, such as adding or having substitute candidates, are not permissible after registration is complete and travel arrangements are made.

There will be Capitol Hill Day after the conference, where delegates visit their respective state legislators to learn about legislative processes as well as increase their knowledge of civic engagement and duties.  Please print out and fax your delegates' Free Write Submission Form by Friday, February 16th to YouthBuild USA.

The National Youth Policy Council (NYPC) is an elected body of YouthBuild participants and graduate leaders from across the country.  This body acts as a national voice for youth in the YouthBuild Movement, pledging it’s time both in council and in fieldwork to assist participants and YouthBuild programs across the country.  The NYPC mission is to build upon YouthBuild’s legacy of youth voice and leadership by engaging students and recent graduates in YouthBuild USA’s decision making and program design efforts. The NYPC structure is designed to ensure meaningful representation of young people raised poor throughout YouthBuild and the broader youth development field.

Eight YouthBuild participants will be elected to serve on NYPC at the annual Conference of Young Leaders. You must complete the National Youth Policy Council Application Process, which includes a formal application, a letter of recommendation, and a 500 word written essay (preferably typed).  All of which must be sent to YouthBuild USA prior to the Conference of Young Leaders. E-mailed or faxed applications must be received by February 16th.

YouthBuild USA Rural Caucus

The YouthBuild USA National Rural Youth Caucus is being held March 1st - March 3rd as a pre-event to the Conference of Young Leaders.  This event brings together a select group of mature, thoughtful, prepared and passionate young people to explore the unique challenges facing rural youth. These leaders will identify what assets rural young people offer, come to understand the larger framework and role of national rural policy, and be able to link the two to enact change. Caucus participants will present what they have learned to the entire Youth Conference and be prepared to share this information with their local legislators on Capitol Hill Day.  Woven throughout the two-days will be numerous team-building activities and Youth Conference orientation exercises so that the young people feel acclimated to the conference and their D.C. surroundings and can participate fully and grow from their entire CoYL experience.For more information about the Rural Youth Caucus please contact Rebecca Rethore, YouthBuild USA's Rural Initiative Project Manager at 617 741-1259 or at rrethore@youthbuild.org.

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Please review this information carefully and thoroughly. 

General Conference Information
March 3rd - March 5th + March 6th for Capitol Hill Day

Hotel
Marriott at Metro Center (smoke free hotel)
775 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC  20005
202.737.2200

The Marriott at Metro Center is a smoke free hotel.  All conference attendees will be placed in non-smoking sleeping room.  If delegates smoke in the non-smoking rooms there is a $250 cleaning fee that will be billed back to the YouthBuild program. 

Registration Fee
This year's fee is $225 per delegate.  There will be no additions, substitutions, or changes made after delegates are registered on-line.

Payment of the registration fee can be made with credit card, debit card, checking account, paypal or check by mail.  If paying with check make it payable to YouthBuild USA and please mail to:
 
Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi
YouthBuild USA
58 Day St PO Box 440322
Somerville, MA 02144

Delegate's Conduct Form
A signed Delegate's Conduct Form (one per delegate) must be sent to Jennifer BastressTahmasebi at YouthBuild USA, 58 Day Street, PO Box 440322, Somerville, MA 02144 by February 7th. This form can be downloaded below.

Other Conference Participation Costs & Expenses
YouthBuild USA will cover the cost of the delegate's lodging, transportation, as well as planned meals at the conference. All delegates will be sharing a room with another delegate.  Last minute transportation changes will be the responsibility of the sponsoring organization; any charges incurred for air or train tickets will be the paid for by the delegate's or delegates' sponsoring organization.

Travel Arrangements
All transportation arrangements will be made by our designated YouthBuild USA travel agent.  When your delegate's travel itinerary is complete, the information will be forwarded directly to you (sponsoring organization) to share with your delegate.  Because of heightened security, please be advised to have your delegate(s) present proper picture identification, such as driver's license, when asked by transportation authorities at any given time.  Delegates' picture identifications must match their names on their travel itineraries. 

YouthBuild program staff are responsible for providing or making sure that their delegates have reliable transportation to the airport or train station on Thursday, March 1st if attending the Rural Caucus or Saturday, March 3rd if attending the Conference of Young Leaders to ensure that they do not miss their flight or train.

Questions & Inquiries
Please contact Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi at 617-741-1213.

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Delegate Preparation

Delegates are chosen to participate in YouthBuild USA's Conference of Young Leaders because they have demonstrated leadership, good judgement, and reliability.  Attendance at the conference is a demonstration of the local program's confidence in the delegate, and attendance is a reward for the significant contributions each delegate has made to the local program.  The conference will allow them to further demonstrate their accomplishments.  We look forward to their full participation and request your help in ensuring that all delegates recognize the seriousness of their commitment to this effort.

Our experience with delegates over the years has informed us that this trip is often our students' first trip away from home.  We recommend that you and your delegates have an open discussion about the conference, including what it means for them personally and for the program, as well as issues of fear and homesickness.  Ensuring delegates have a good experience while attending the conference, and the overall success of this event, will largely depend on your thorough preparation of your delegates before their arrival at the conference.

We hope the following suggestions are helpful to you in your discussion with your delegate(s):

Your help in preparing your delegate(s) translates directly to the overall success of the conference.

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Capitol Hill Day: Tuesday, March 6, 2007

We are very excited about the upcoming Conference of Young Leaders and our visit to Capitol Hill! And, we are sure you are, too!

The experience of visiting Capitol Hill and meeting and talking with your legislators is truly an exciting one.

Before you arrive at the conference, you are asked to document some of your thoughts about YouthBuild, educating others about YouthBuild, and your visit to Capitol Hill.  This piece of writing should be a simple free-write and should begin to help you decide what you would like to say to your legislators.

Here are a few sample questions that might help you get started:

• Why did you join YouthBuild?
• How does YouthBuild strengthen you, your family, your community?
• What positive changes have you made in your life and in your community since joining YouthBuild?
• What do you plan to do when you graduate?
• What aspects of YouthBuild are most important to you or the other students in your program?
• How do you want to continue to support your local program after graduation?

This writing will help you begin to think about your visit to Capitol Hill.
 
We ask that you send your free-write to us by February 14th. Please fax to 617-623-4359. (Please keep a copy to bring with you to the Conference.)

You are required to bring appropriate business attire for our visit to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 6th. For example: a sports coat, shirt and tie for men; a pant suit or knee-length skirt suit for women. Clothing should not be revealing. The idea is to channel legislators' attention to your voice and your message and not to distract them with appearance. Business-appropriate, yet comfortable, shoes should be worn. Remember.  You will be walking to and from various buildings on Capitol Hill.

Capitol Hill Day is a vital part of YouthBuild. It is a wonderful opportunity to educate legislators about the importance of YouthBuild to so many people and so many communities.

If you have any questions about Capitol Hill Day, please contact Sharistan Melkonian at 617-741-1271 or smelkonian@youthbuild.org. Thank you for your attention. We look forward to meeting you!

Important Documents to Download

Registration information including a Delegate's Conduct Form and Free Write Submission Form. (Word document)

National Youth Policy Council Elections information and application. (Word document)