Inspire, Unite, Thrive: WISE' first youth summit

Youth Summit Committee (first row, left to right), Sernay, Vanny, Ehry, and Deeply, with youth program coordinators (top row, left to right), Jess and Ayman

WISE held their first youth summit on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 with a focus on creating a space for immigrant and refugee youth (ages 11-18) to collaborate and learn from one another's unique cultures. The Inspire, Unite, Thrive Youth Summit was a year-long planning effort spearheaded by six youth from the Girls Getting Ahead in Leadership program with the supervision of WISE' youth program coordinators, Jessica Miano and Ayman Mohamed.

Youth Summit Committee members, Sernay, Vanny, Ehry, Deeply, Marie, and Ogeti, worked with their supervisors to plan and facilitate four creative sessions focused on:

• Career exploration with early-career professionals and post-secondary students

• Passport activities to encourage culture-sharing

• Workshop on youth responsibilities in bi-cultural and intergenerational households

• Self-care and self-preservation

A total of 60 youth attended from four schools and one nonprofit.

Thank you to Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health for funding this event. And a special thanks to our speakers and facilitators, Vanessa Reyes Romero, Sher Wah, Safiyo Mohamud, and Muna Isse.