The program wove together core and arts workshops, speakers, field trips, and service learning to provide a compelling living and learning experience.

While visiting Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, Encampers were exposed to the victories and hope in the struggle for justice, and encouraged to embrace the ongoing work for a better world.

At Montgomery’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Legacy Museum, Encampers learned about the legacies of slavery and the relationship between slavery and current-day mass incarceration.

“I now have a clearer understanding that people are fighting every day for what they believe in. It wasn’t just the big people of history like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ida B. Wells who changed the world. It was all of the people giving their strength over to the movement. I now understand that if we want to make a change in our country, we are going to need everyone to fight.” — Masud H., East Orange, NJ

“I thought I knew a good bit about Mississippi, but walking through the museums made me realize that in reality I didn’t know that much.” — Hallie, Philadelphia, MS

“Images in the museums and reflections in our circle challenged my assumptions. I faced many fears at the Encampment that I never would have managed to get through without the EFC.”

— Asusena, Oxnard, CA

Faya Ora Rose Touré and Senator Hank Sanders with children and college interns from the Center for Nonviolence brought renewed hope through a musical and cultural presentation and dialogue.

… and on census materials related to the upcoming elections. (ACLU)

“My internship with the ACLU really opened my eyes to different ways that voters are still being suppressed. I had heard about voter rights issues, but had never really seen the issues until they were presented directly to me. Now I know that I can host voter rights workshops in my community and get connected with organizations that are already working on helping educate people and work for voter rights” — Madison, Camarillo, CA

… thanks to the collaboration of Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and his staff. (Jackson, MS)

Hinds County Circuit Clerk Zack Wallace gave the Encampers a tour that included the county court and showed them where records, including voter registrations, are kept.

… a documentary that examines the past, present and future experience of farmers and landowners of African American, Latin and Indigenous heritage. NJFC’s director Ellen Reddy brought Encampers to a farm owned by an African-American woman, where they harvested chilies and bell peppers, and collected eggs. The farmer shared her stories and the Encampers experienced life on the farm directly. (Nollie Jenkins Family Center)

They learned about the challenges, and the people and organizations working to improve education in the state. (Southern Echo)

Under the guidance of community leader Al White, Encampers pitched in and helped to clear fallen trees in preparation for a new project to protect the land from flooding and the creek from contaminants.

As part of an environmental restoration project, Encampers helped to clear debris on Lake Pushmataha.

We learned new cultures and new dances, and some of us even watched a stickball game for the first time. We experienced crazy weather, but still managed to clean the river. We went there to work, but also we had the honor to walk with Tristan and be part of his special stickball event. Lastly, we enjoyed a day at the fair and had lots of fun bonding.

• What is youth activism?
• How do young people approach work for social change?
• What are their strategies?

These are some of the questions raised by the youth activism and community-building workshop. We invite experienced organizers to share their work, challenges and strategies.

The Encampers are asked to think about ways to energize and engage other young people to become active participants in their communities. We discuss not only what tools are needed to prepare for the work of social change but ways to build and strengthen communities in the process. Encampers express a desire to make a difference in the world. We have shaped this workshop to help them to find the steps, practice and principles involved in becoming a social change agent.

We look at movements that historically have been empowered and impacted by the leadership of young people and we ask the questions:

• What makes a good citizen?
• Why do young people not vote?
• Do your representatives represent you?
• What are the consequences of not voting?

“It didn’t feel like an English class at school. We actually wrote down how we feel and used those poems it the final presentation — that was amazing and an honor.” —  Jocelyn, Richmond, CA

In this workshop, participants learn about the history of racism in America and how it has been defined by law and institutions. The goal is to see why is it important to have political representation by seeing a history that denied these rights to marginalized groups, and what were the consequences of those denials. Through this lens, participants make connections to the voting rights struggle today, and the importance of culture and community as a means of resistance.

The music workshop encourages youth to use their voices and imagination through making music. We also feel that creating their own songs is a way of summarizing their experiences and is a process of analysis. This year, the Encampers once again created an incredible song that is a product of their work as a group. Through this process, they have learned how to use their collective voice.

Theater games and having a sense of play are vital for problem solving, creativity, building relationships and imagining new possibilities. Play helps facilitate deep connections between people who do not know each other. We have discussions, play theater games, and use improvisation and skits to express the ideas of inclusion and exclusion/ belonging and not belonging/speaking out instead of fitting in. In doing so, we further examine the stories that connect us.

Hollis Watkins, co-founder of Southern Echo, spoke to the Encampers about youth activism. He stated that to organize the community, you need to investigate, educate, negotiate and then demonstrate.

Leroy Johnson, co-founder of Southern Echo, spoke to the Encampers about “Connecting the Dots between Voter Rights, Census and Redistricting to Change the Policy Landscape.” He highlighted the importance of the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census and of re-districting.

Brett Bursey, South Carolina Progressive Network, spoke on the importance of organizing and education. He believes education is the key to organizing and promoting change locally, statewide and nationally.

Mayor Johnny B. Thomas, mayor of Glendora, MS, spoke to the Encampers about how the city of Glendora has managed to turn the tragedy of the Emmett Till murder into a demonstration of the power of resilience.

Faya Ora Rose Touré, Center for Nonviolence, Selma, Alabama. Toure and a group of children presented an inspiring play celebrating their African heritage and the beauty of Black culture. Young adult interns from the Center talked with the Encampers about their Get-Out-the-Vote campaign.

Senator Hank Sanders, Alabama Senate, 1982–present, informed the Encampers that when he joined the movement in the 1960s, he had no idea that the fight for justice would be this long. Yet, he continues to fight.

Tim Jeffries, U.S. Department of Justice, spoke about the current state of the opioid crisis — its impact on communities across the country and the current federal prevention and intervention initiatives. He solicited input from Encampers on substance abuse issues in their communities and answered questions from the Encampers. He encouraged Encampers to develop their own prevention strategies in their communities.

Cici Battle, director of Young People For (YP4), outlined voting challenges and strategies for the Encampers in her interactive workshop. A next-step program partner, YP4 is a national leadership development program for college-aged students that works to identify, empower and engage the newest generation of progressive leaders.

Ellen Reddy, executive director and co-founder of the Nollie Jenkins Family Center, and youth leaders from the organization spoke about the challenges they are addressing. These include excessive discipline, the silencing of Black girls’ voices and LGBTQ students being pushed out of school.

Tim Tubby, VP Human Relations, Pearl River Resort, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, presented a history of the land and people of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to the assembled Encampers, parents, alums and supporters at the 2018 InterGen(erational) Weekend.

… as the Encampers share what they have learned in their Encampment and are welcomed into the larger EFC community.

A highlight of this election year was the kick-off of the EFC Get-Out-the-Vote campaign by the Encampers. Encampers shared their plan with the assembled parents, alums and supporters to educate their communities about the importance of voting. Request the EFC’s Voting Rights Organizations & Advocacy Guide.

“The InterGen weekend was awesome. I was impressed with how the youth took charge of the event and put together a play that was very moving. Life on the reservation today is far different from in the past. I must say Tristan learned quite a bit, from what he has told me. And he knows he can stand up and speak out for what he thinks is important and matters to him and his people. Thank you for giving him the knowledge and experience.” — Delilah Gibson, parent

That even if my contribution doesn’t affect every single person in our community, it may reach out to one person. Now I know I can give my all, even if it’s not the most articulate contribution. The InterGen committee and all of the chances I have had to lead have given me my confidence back. I am going to go back into my community ready to work. — Masud, 2018 Encamper

The alumni, parents and Encampment Board members were there to support, encourage and be present so everyone could see that “it takes a village” and deepen the ways we can learn from each other. — Steve Leibman, EFC alum and board member

EFC is the only national network of those who care about youth getting social justice leadership skills and who know and share movement theory and connections as well. There is no other program that has so much care and analysis, and a curriculum model that not only engages youth, but gives them community, tools and wisdom that last a lifetime. Watch out, world, these Encampers are full of heart and smarts!  — Tracy Gary, donor activist, Tiburon, CA