YWCA Metro Vancouver's annual media literacy Youth Conference is back!

YOUth, Deconstructing the world around you is an interactive youth-led conference bringing high-school students across Metro Vancouver together to discuss critical issues in the media which impact their everyday lives. 

This year's agenda includes fun and educational workshops, breakout groups, entertainment, talks from Hootsuite and The Next Big Thing, and free lunch and snacks.

If you are a high school student, we want you aboard. This conference is designed and run by young people of the YWCA Strong Girls, Strong World Youth Advisory Committee, so it's created BY youth FOR youth. That's you!

Find out more about the Youth Advisory Committee here. 

RSVP NOW to ensure you get your workshop of preference!

WORKSHOP THEMES

Deconstructing Media: You do not need to be a detective to see the clues and recognize how minorities are being misrepresented in the media. In this workshop, you will be looking at several major themes in our media and attempt to critically analyze and discuss why certain groups are forgotten, neglected, or falsely portrayed in our TV shows and social media platforms. 

LGBTQ+ Awareness (Facilitated by YWCA youth with a guest from QMUNITY): During this workshop, we will cover gender, sexual minorities, and traditional roles and gender stereotypes through discussion of current events related to the LGBTQ+ community and interactive games. Uncovering some of the common media misconceptions people have about the LGBTQ+ community, you will learn how you can help and speak out for LGBTQ+ issues in and outside of your community.

Healthy Relationships and Dating: How do your relationships define you? This workshop will help you explore the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Through fun activities and peer discussions, we’ll address different aspects around maintaining positive, respectful relationships and how to identify signs of abuse. We’ll also discuss what consent means and why it’s important.

Social Media and Mental Health: What's Snapchat got to do with my identity? What goes through my head when making Instagram posts? In the Internet culture, most of us have a "real-life" and an Internet self. We are careful to construct the perfect online messages, when realistically, we all have struggles we battle that aren't fully represented. Learn the differences, how to gain empathy for others, and how to be your most authentic self, online and offline.

Conference Agenda

9:30AM-10:00AM: Doors Open and Registration
10:00AM-10:30AM: Introductions and Keynote Speakers
10:30AM-11:00AM: Icebreaker Activity
11:00AM-11:50AM: Workshop #1
11:50AM-12:05PM: Break
12:05PM-12:55PM: Workshop #2
12:55PM-1:40PM: Lunch Break with Entertainment
1:40PM-2:55PM: World Cafe Discussion
2:55PM-3:10PM: Entertainment
3:10PM-3:30PM: Key Takeaways and Closing Remarks

When signing up, please rank your preference of workshops to attend. You will be attending a total of 2 workshops, and we will do our best to place you according to your preferences. 

Spread the word, and bring your friends. We promise it'll be a good time. Tickets are limited, so act now.

Still have questions or want to chat? Contact Peggy at pchen@ywcavan.org / 604-895-5822 or tweet us @YWCAYouth.  

See you there!