by Grace Hanson

LPF's youth program continues to transform students' lives and the context in which they view the world. One example of this is LPF's presence and activity at the National ELCA Youth Gatherings.

LPF's "Path of Hope" is the centerpiece -- this interactive exhibit allows youth to learn about the rich history of nonviolent action, along with making blocks expressing their vision for peace in the world. Monica Fisk worked tirelessly organizing this area, and led workshops for the multicultural youth leaders beforehand, and the gathering of youth leaders after the conference.

As the new youth trainer for LPF, I have found that youth know a lot about peace and justice. In this age of globalization and mass media, it's not hard to find out about injustices like a Nike sweatshop in Indonesia or the U.S. war in Iraq.

Students also have more of a chance to see injustice first hand as more churches and schools bring students to impoverished communities in the U.S. and internationally through servant and mission trips. Such trips are only partly about service; even more important are the relationships that students can make in marginalized communities.

Immersion can be regarded as step one. Step two is what happens after the trip or experience. In this age of interconnectedness and international travel, the biggest danger facing youth is not some foreign bug -- but the domestic plague of cynicism. In a society that tells young people they don't matter and have no power they can easily become causalities to this distorted philosophy of life.

They may know the facts, but like many adults, have little concept of their capacity to elicit change. They have read, seen, and heard about the social ills of war, poverty, racism and sexism and have gotten stuck. They are calling out for an education that transforms, that will help them gain the tools of empowerment and combating injustice.

LPF's youth program seeks to breathe new life into the experience of Lutheran youth across the country, plugging them into the theory and practice of Christian nonviolence. In a similar way to service trips, LPF's workshops give students an experience that transcends borders and gives them a context in which to re-examine their experiences with injustice. As a recent full day workshop participant from Concordia College said, "This is a very proactive, empowering workshop. I left recognizing the immensity and the variety of violence/injustice in the world, but activated and inspired for constructive action."

We have worked with high school youth, college youth as well as youth directors in educating them on Christian nonviolence and ways they can act for social change.

The youth program continues to have a presence at conferences for Lutheran youth and youth directors and with area high school students. We lead workshops on Christian peacemaking at the Youth Leaders Extravaganza, and have an ongoing role on the planning committee of "Let Justice Roll," a Region 1 youth gathering at Holden Village for high school youth interested in peace and justice issues.

The youth program also continues to focus its ministry on organizing and educating among Lutheran colleges and college students. Last spring LPF continued its participation in the annual Peace Prize Forum as well as leading nonviolence trainings at Concordia, St. Olaf, Luther and Gustavus Adolphus colleges. These trainings continue to foster activism for students of faith. Time and again students report how empowered they feel and how these trainings create the spark that help students organize.

It is our goal to do more "training for trainers" workshops, empowering local people to organize and lead workshops on nonviolence in their area, for issues that are important to their community. The LPF community has much to offer in combating the plague of cynicism and apathy that sometimes feels overpowering. Youth care about and want to act on these issues. LPF's youth program helps organize and educate students around the country on just how to do this.

To find out more about LPF's activities and resources, contact us at lpf@ecunet.org or at the address at the bottom of this page.