Bring positive youth development to your community with an interactive leadership journey that inspires, heals, and empowers.

WELCOME TO EQUITERRA

Can a virtual world open young leaders to different possibilities for equitable development in their communities?

Young people are profoundly impacted by issues and challenges across every dimension of their lives, from the character and quality of education and health to social development and economic opportunities. Our responsibility to them goes beyond just recognizing these impacts, and calls on us to equip them with the leadership skills needed to navigate these turbulent waters. 

We designed the virtual world of Equiterra to gamify how youth learn and develop exceptional ways to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in their home communities. It actively creates opportunities that unlock their inherent abilities in a creative, supportive and nurturing environment where young people learn to grow and thrive simultaneously through experiential activities, adventure and tapping into their natural curiosity.

EQUITERRA LEADERSHIP JOURNEY

The Equiterra Leadership Journey takes an unprecedented multi-generational approach to youth DEI leadership through virtual worldbuilding to holistically engage participants’ learning and unleash their potential. The pilot journey, GAME ON!, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and championed by National 4-H Council, was held in fall 2023 with four youth/adult teams across different states. Over the course of two months, participants met for synchronous Zoom sessions structured around five virtual lands to develop specific leadership skills. 

The success of the pilot, enthusiasm from past participants, and promise of new participants are beckoning the next iteration of Equiterra leadership journeys. We’re committed to scaling this project so the doors to Equiterra can open for many more youth leaders to become DEI stewards in their communities—creating myriad community models of equity leadership put forth by the next generation of U.S. leaders. 

If you’re interested in bringing this opportunity to youth in your community, we’ll partner with you to customize the journey to meet your community's specific needs. 

JOURNEY outcomes

This journey fosters positive youth leadership development through three distinct areas. 

Skills DEVELOPMENT

Critical Thinking:

Participants hone their critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyze complex issues and propose innovative solutions for creating justice, equity, and inclusion in their communities.  

Leadership Development:

Participants strengthen their leadership abilities, encouraging them to steward thoughtful civic, STEM, agriculture, and health initiatives in their communities.

Empathy and Intercultural Competence:

Through immersive experiences, youth and adult participants cultivate empathy and gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for different perspectives, embracing diversity and inclusivity to be culturally responsive in their goals.

Systems Thinking:

Participants develop systems thinking skills, enabling them to recognize interconnected social, economic, and environmental factors influencing equitable development.

Social DEVELOPMENT

ECOCENTRIC WORLDVIEW:

Participants expand their perspectives on natural ecologies to view and treat all life as equal. 

Self-awareness and Personal Growth:

Participants engage in reflective practices, fostering self-awareness and personal growth, essential for effective leadership and community stewardship.

Platform for Youth Voice:

With youth and adults as equal participants, the Equiterra Leadership Journey facilitates a co-creative space where youth can drive conversations and press issues that matter to them.

Multigenerational Community:

Participants gain confidence in working across generations, acknowledging the power of working together to map assets, problem solve, and build relationships.

Critical Consciousness:

From analyzing systems of oppression, participants learn to question the status quo, identify root causes of social problems, and advocate for transformative action to address systemic issues. 

PEDAGOGY INNOVATION

Research-backed Programming:

The Equiterra Leadership Journey couples the work of land-grant university researchers and equity professionals from across the nation.

Unprecedented Methods:

Gamified learning and imaginative play characterizes this experience for youth and adult participants. Additionally, the entirely virtual program bridges the access gap for those where finances and transportation are obstacles. 

How do we empower diverse youth to bring forward all their gifts in service of community transformation?

REACTIONS FROM THE PILOT

  • “If we educate ourselves and educate others about problems other people face, it increases our kindness, and increases the ways that we will advocate for others. It takes practice.”

  • “I'm leaving the land of Equitanova to collaborate with empathy, education and inclusivity.”

  • “It made you feel like you were actually in Equitanova.”

  • “Education is really important for equity because people can be scared of things they don’t really understand or are misinformed about, so education is really important for people to fully understand things and make better decisions.”

  • “We need to put privilege in check, not just your own, but look within the system at where privilege exists and who has a deficit of opportunity for agency to make sure everybody’s included.”

  • “I am leaving the Land of Equitanova to actively listen and be aware of my privilege with my community with love and respect.”

  • “I am leaving the Land of Equitanova to spread understanding and love within my community with care, humility, adaptability and curiosity.”

JOURNEY GUIDE

The Field Journal is a research-backed guide that gives participants access to knowledge gathered by a diverse group of field experts, including land-grant university faculty, community development professionals, and cooperative extension professionals. It takes them on a journey through the five virtual lands with guided exercises and practices to integrate the learning as they go. 

PROGRAM DESIGNERS

We are impact leadership designers and facilitators.  

  • Atlanta, Georgia

    Positive Youth Development

    Session Facilitator

  • Nashville, Tennessee

    Public Health Leader

    Session Facilitator

  • Vancouver, British Columbia

    Knowledge Curator

    Session Facilitator

  • Santa Maria, Brazil

    Graphic facilitator/designer

    Session Facilitator

  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Curriculum designer

    Session Facilitator