Outreach to Young AdultsCanadian Unitarian Council ACMMay 2005

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

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

Why Young Adults?

• Ideas, energy, creativity, passion

• Leadership for the present and the future

• Young adults are often under-represented in our congregations

Who is YA outreach meant for?

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

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

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”

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Demographics

• Demographic studies let you find out about your congregation’s community in new ways

• Possible variables include age, demographic segment, faith involvement

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Getting Help with YA Outreach

• Consulting• Training• Grants• Print and Video

Resources• On-line resources

and resources for electronic outreach

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

Training Resources

• Regional Campus Ministry Trainings

• Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Trainings

• YA Leadership Development Weekends

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

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

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

Database and E-mail Lists

• ConnectUU: Online database• www.connectuu.co

m

• Register your group and events here

• On-line event registration

• Free E-mail list hosting• newlist.uuyan.org

www.uuyan.org

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