Deidre Keating is a graduate student in Memorial's Faculty of Education and a member of the organizing committee for the upcoming Edge conference taking place on the St. John's campus Aug. 21-23. At the Edge: Creating Direction for Peace and Justice will bring together people and organizations involved in educating and working with youth who recognize that "in every act of violence and injustice there is a message that needs to be understood." The following call for participants appears as a special submission to www.today.mun.ca.

Youth are the learners of today and the leaders of tomorrow. As such, they play a vital role in the functioning and betterment of our society. Our world craves their energy, knowledge, ability, creativity, passion, optimism, and drive. And yet, often youth are ignored: their voices dismissed, their endeavours minimized, their confidence slighted and their opportunities limited. We often do not provide the desired environment for youth to cultivate their skills, engage their energy, develop their passion, and set their drive into motion.  

As adults, we set a model for the youth with whom we live and work, and we would like to think that our interactions with them are actually of benefit. Yet we must be willing to admit that our relationships with youth may inadvertently harm or hinder their growth, development and success. We must be willing to contemplate the notion that our actions and behaviours may work to their detriment, despite our best efforts, rather than promise their success. As a collective whole, we must be willing to ask ourselves difficult questions regarding our interactions with youth: Are we actually listening to their voices? Are we respecting their needs? Are we honouring their experiences? Are we encouraging their power? And are we giving them the opportunities that they require in order to grow, flourish and succeed?

If such questions are dancing in your head, and if you would like the space in which to work through such queries with others of the same frame of mind, I eagerly encourage you to participate in the Edge conference, happening in St. John’s from Aug. 21-23. It will be an opportunity for individuals from all areas of the community and beyond to unite with one focus in mind: the youth with whom we live and work, and for whom we care. The conference, a collaboration between the Faculty of Education at Memorial University, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association and the Canadian Red Cross, promises to be an exciting and engaging event for all involved. Taking place on the St. John’s campus, the Edge conference intends to unite individuals who work with youth in any and all capacities – as parents, guardians, teachers, youth-care workers, health-care workers, mental health professionals, social workers and then some – so that we can engage in active dialogue about our experiences, interactions, and relationships with youth. Together, we can better understand their needs and respond to them in ways that are of benefit rather than of harm.

As a participant at the Edge, you will be immersed in a culture of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to strengthening our relationships with youth. You will be encouraged to share your own experiences working with and caring for youth; in collaboration, we will brainstorm ways in which all individuals may work together to better serve youth. The voices of youth from our community will be represented, and it is their words that will guide discussions and presentations. The Edge intends to unite individuals with one purpose in mind: to collaborate with one another so that our youth may receive the best attention, opportunity, guidance, nurturing and care.

The event also offers opportunity to enter into dialogue with individuals from diverse backgrounds, from the local community and beyond. Get a taste of what is happening in Newfoundland and Labrador, through presentations from local researchers and community organizations, as well as what is happening country-wide and around the world. Dr. Debra Pepler of York University, whose research focuses on bullying; Dr. Brenda Morrison of Simon Fraser University, who is prominent in the area of restorative justice; and Dr. Ursula Kelly of Memorial who will speak about education in challenging times, will all present. Dr. Kelly's presentation will include a student and a parent, who will both respond to her discourse. In addition, there will be an opening program emceed by local musician and artist Jody Richardson and featuring artistic expressions from youth in our community. Dancing phenomenon Bollywood Jig musicians City on the Coast will also perform.

There will also be breakout sessions on a broad range of youth-related topics, including Roots of Empathy, youth-adult Participatory Action Research in local high schools, LGBTQA-focused initiatives in the community as well as on campus, social justice in the classroom, cyber-bullying, youth leadership, ethno-cultural identities and more. Check the Edge website at www.edge2013.ca for a detailed schedule and registration details.