#PEERSGIVING 2017
by San Francisco Peer Resources
Michael Essien
In the face of extremism, segregation, hate, and oppression, members of society have to engage in productive conversation and make decisions to move us forward. The world that we currently reside in can be changed in the near future by those who are coming behind us. How do we prepare our youth to assume their rightful place as productive citizens who must wrestle with “today’s” challenge?
Peer Resources is that answer. Peer Resources provides answers of opportunities in two ways. First, it allows elders to give back to the community. Our years of experience and learnings can be shared with the youth as examples, warnings, and hopefully appropriate decision-making in the near future. Second, it provides students with on the job training and preparation for life. Tools, useful to engage and challenge the world around them are provided and used to build capacity and student agency.
Peer Resources is a critical program at my school, and that I support as a Principal and a person. Peers matters because it creates fertile ground for our future leaders to shape the world.
Youth need meaningful and real opportunities to lead and make decisions,
Our community needs role-models for inspiration and personal transformation,
Peer Resources supports youth by creating space for them to find purpose through service to others
And continues that support after graduation to move forward with adulthood and life, successfully.
We are 38 years strong,
Love it, Plan it, Do it, Change it!
Our goal is to raise $20,000 to fund our two youth-led conferences: Transformative Change Day, where high school leaders share their research and plans for action in our community; and the Youth Are Resources Conference, where 200 middle school students lead workshops on the ethics topics of their choice. Both are critical opportunities for youth to take center stage, make their voices heard, and work together and create change.
For 38 years Peer Resources has empowered young people to find their purpose while supporting their peers in a hard and imperfect world that pushes too many people down. Support youth to lead. Give today, share tomorrow, spread the word.