Miracle Corners of the World “Young Leaders Program”

For the past nine years we have participated as presenters at the Young Leaders Fellowship 10-day training conference with MCW Global. The program brings together young leaders from around the globe for an in-depth training to prepare participants to envision and implement positive changes in their local communities. The program takes place over 10 days on the campus of Champlain College in Vermont. We spend the first three days together with the young leaders and mentors, and we present our workshop during that time. In our presentation, we ask each participant to think about their vision for what would make the world better. We provide various art materials, and invite participants to create a visual representation of their “better” along with a one minute story to share with the larger group of their vision. We have found that this time connecting with one another around a foundational story creates lasting memories and bonds among all of us gathered together. We end each workshop presenting each participant with a small piece of magnetic hematite—a stone that, when it is connected with other pieces, will stick together. This is to symbolize our commitment to a lasting connection with each person we connect with in these group settings. We continue to cultivate our relationships with the organization and the alumni from the program in person, when possible, and over social media as we support their vision to create “local change through global exchange.”