** Check out the video report from the WYLDlife trip to Wells Gray in late September **
Exciting news: Winter Youth Leadership Development (WYLD) was launched in September of 2020 with a small, pandemic-compliant cohort of young adults and continues through to May of 2021. WYLD is a 21st century update on a long and successful history of work with young adults at the Sorrento Centre that stretches back to 1965.
** Listen up! Click here for five WYLD youth who share their thoughts **
The young adults, along with WYLD staff and resource people, will form an intentional community at the Sorrento Centre over the coming months, based on shared responsibilities:
1. Learning: Our learning will come through teaching, discussion and field work plus experiential learning opportunities in many social justice areas.
** click here for Imam Monawar Hussain interfaith dialogue with WYLD **
2. Care for Creation: This year, the global reach of the novel coronavirus revealed our shared human nature and the inter-connectivity of our economies, political structures, health care systems, food production chains, energy and transportation systems in devastating ways. Engagement in practical ways, with the world around us is a core component of WYLD.
3. Shared responsibilities: Decision making: Social change model – WYLDLife will be learning more about this leadership model, to develop their own the community style of decision making.
4. Giving: Gifting helps build social relations rather than private capital. What is the history and values around my giving? What is my relationship with those to whom I give, and how does my giving contribute to transformation of that relationship?
5. Consumption: Two issues to be discussed - how much do we consume, how do we direct our consumer dollars.
6. Solidarity: How will we show our solidarity and to whom? How will we interact in a meaningful way with people from a very different social stratum than our own, particularly those who are marginalized in our society?
7. Work/Sabbath/Self Care: How can I improve and expand my disciplines of assuring I have regular rest, and adequate space for spiritual reflection and renewal?
There will be broad themes each month with skilled leaders bringing engaging with the youth:
Since 1963, the Sorrento Centre has been a gathering place for all. Starting in our earliest years, we have offered youth programs to engage and support children, youth and young adults.
** watch the slideshow for pix from a late September WYLD trip to Wells Grey **
Over the years, we have welcomed everyone from children to seniors to events and activities throughout the year.
In early November, WYLD youth prepared a special on-line Remembrance Day service for St Mary's Anglican / United Church.
** click here for a direct link to the WYLD worship service **
In December, as the Sorrento Centre (along with most of the rest of the world) was on a "pause" due to the pandemic, WYLDlife recorded a special Christmas greeting.
** click here for a link to the WYLD Christmas video **
Also, in December, WYLD young adults gathered for a small dinner to celebrate their first few months together, and one of the WYLD youth spoke on behalf of the rest of the cohort.
** click here for the WYLD dinner event **
On Feb. 17, 2021, WYLD offered an Ash Wednesday service: Ashes to ashes, stardust to stardust.