National Youth Event: Learning, Imagining, Celebrating

For four days their feet (and a few wheels) trod and re-trod the three quarters of a mile between the dorms and the event spaces through the high heat of an Indiana summer. But it was the energy and joy on 2,500 faces that most marked Purdue University's campus during the UCC's National Youth Event July 10-13, winning praises from presenters, denominational leaders, campus staff, chaperones, and the youth themselves. 74 came from Connecticut, many joining the 200-strong New England contingent aboard four buses. Half of these stopped along the way to do food insecurity service projects in Cleveland, Ohio, and visit the national offices of the UCC.

Quotes:

MK Asante, writer/teacher/filmmaker: "If you make an observation, you have an obligation."

J. R. Martinez, Iraq veteran, inspirational speaker: "Adapt and overcome."

Lolisa Gibson, advocate for persons with HIV: "You guys are great."

Miah Noel Yager, youth speaker with Down's Syndrome: "At church, I am accepted as I am, as a person. Being part of a church has given me a community to laugh with. I can just be silly and break into song, or do impressions, and my friends laugh." Her audience cheered with tears in their eyes.

UCC Collegium and Conference Ministers: "You -- our sisters, our brothers -- are amazing; every single one of you. This was your event and you helped us all feel extravagantly welcomed into it."

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.