Outreach to Young Adults

1. Outreach to Young Adults Canadian Unitarian Council ACM May 2005

2. Goals for Participants • View young adults as a potential target for growth efforts • Learn methods of doing young adult-targeted outreach • Gain tools and program ideas • Learn about resources available from the UUA to help you

3. Why Outreach? • We have something unique and powerful to offer the world • We want to be an influential public voice on issues that matter to us • New people keep our living tradition vital

4. Why Young Adults? • Ideas, energy, creativity, passion • Leadership for the present and the future • Young adults are often under-represented in our congregations

5. Who is YA outreach meant for?

6. We are seeking…. • Young people who grew up UU and who are no longer connected to a congregation • Young people seeking a faith that lets them be who they are; a faith with more than one possible “right” answer • People trying to match what they do with their values • Young people seeking a faith grounding for justice work • People in their first jobs and careers • Young couples in new relationships • New parents

7. Young Adults are Seeking Us • The young adult period is a time of great transitions • Many young adults are seeking a liberal religious home that is non-judgmental and makes sense

8. Some Hard Data from the US • 80% of first-year university students are interested in spirituality • 76% searching for meaning and purpose • 48% describe their spiritual outlook as “seeking,” “conflicted,” or “doubting”

9. Outreach Focuses on Needs • Effective outreach first takes into account the needs of the groups you’re hoping to attract • What are some needs that all young adults will share? • What are the different needs of different groups of young adults?

10. Young Adult Needs • Respect for the experience that they have • Need to be treated as adults • Understanding that they are in a transitional period of life • Intergenerational community

11. New U*Us • Develop a strategy for welcoming all newcomers to your congregation • Don’t assume someone is a new UU just because they are young • Need to be welcomed into your congregation • Need to learn about U*Uism • Need us to watch “insider” language that is exclusionary

12. Young Adult Families • Child care or children’s programming at events • YA parent and family-oriented events • Child-friendly events • Invitation to an excellent RE program • Time to be with other adults • Programs focused on parenting and spirituality

13. U*Us from Elsewhere • Need to be respected as people not new to our faith • Invitations to leadership in your congregation • An understanding of what they found meaningful in their previous congregation

14. Outreach Requires Shifting Attention • Outreach requires us also to look outside of our walls at the communities around us • Attracting people different from the ones we already have challenges us to live our theology

15. Your Community & Young Adults • Where do young adults gather in your community? • What shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, etc. do young adults frequent? • What are popular venues for live music? • What neighbourhoods tend to attract young adults? • What are media in your community that young adults use for information?

16. Demographics • Demographic studies let you find out about your congregation’s community in new ways • Possible variables include age, demographic segment, faith involvement

17. Gathering Events • What are the hot issues in your community? • What do we as UUs have to say about them? • Hold an event that will attract community attention

18. Outreach Needs a Plan • Forms of Outreach to put in your plan include: • Advertising • Print materials • Press outreach • Electronic outreach • Networking (person-to-person outreach)

19. Advertising • Place advertisements in local media • Can include newspaper ads (both display and classified ads work), radio spots and even TV • Independent media likely to attract young adults often have affordable rates

20. Print Materials • Produce colorful, high-quality publicity material • Pamphlets and flyers can be distributed to various places in the community • Be aware of who your audience is and why they might be attracted to your congregation

21. Using the Media Effectively • What local media will attract young adult attention? • How can you get publicity for things you are doing? • Press releases • Op-Ed Pieces • Letters to the Editor • Engagement with making change (and thus making news)

22. Using Electronic Media • Attractive, updated web sites are an effective way to reach out to young adults • Use e-mail, but be aware of “death by email” phenomenon • Electronic media exclude those without access

23. Networking • One-on-one communication is the most effective outreach • Most people find our congregations because they are invited by friends • Partnerships with justice organizations can be very effective as outreach tool

24. Making An Outreach Plan • An outreach plan should have: • An understanding of your target audiences and how best to reach them • An understanding of how you are going to use several different outreach media • Timelines associated with various parts of the campaign • Point people for each part • Evaluation methods

25. Outreach Requires Programming • Successful outreach requires programming in the congregation • A balanced model has 3 elements: • Worship and spiritual growth as the center of your program • Opportunities for social interaction (fellowship) and community building • Opportunities for social justice and service to the wider community

26. Small Group Ministry • Covenant groups offer a chance to build relationships • Groups include spiritual, social and service components • “Touch Groups” familiar to many youth • Small Group Ministry model is adaptable

27. Making Connections • Invite young adults to fuller participation in your congregation • Connect young adults to intergenerational programs • Have an intentional path to membership for young adults

28. Getting Help with YA Outreach • Consulting • Training • Grants • Print and Video Resources • On-line resources and resources for electronic outreach

29. Consulting Resources • Staff and trained consultants available • In-person consultations and workshops custom-designed for your needs • Consultants work with your congregation over the course of several months

30. Training Resources • Regional Campus Ministry Trainings • Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Trainings • YA Leadership Development Weekends

31. Grants • Program grants up to US$500 • Billings Fund grants up to US$2000 for events • All require honor proper financial support of the CUC on behalf of the congregation

32. Print and Video Resources • Available from UUA Bookstore • Curricula • Guides • Pamphlet • Videos—including new video out in June • Posters and brochures available from YA&CM office

33. On-line Resources • Covenant Group Resources • Free curricula and manual available for download • Code of Ethics for Peer Leaders • Includes educational materials on how to implement and use it • Code available with standard Canadian spelling

34. Database and E-mail Lists • ConnectUU: Online database • www.connectuu.com • Register your group and events here • On-line event registration • Free E-mail list hosting • newlist.uuyan.org

35. www.uuyan.org

36. Contacting the YA&CM Staff • My contact information: • 919-949-1158 (cell) • mtino@uua.org • Boston-based Staff: • 617-948-4273 • Website: • www.uuyan.org