News and Views

By Alison Burdett
UMConnection Staff

Young adults were creating conversations and encouraging creative thinking at this year’s Annual Conference Session. Through INSPIREDC’s “Mission Possible” initiative, members and guests to Annual Conference were put to a challenge. Those who accepted the challenge were asked to pick an issue, draw two assets, and generate an idea that would cost no more than $100.

INSPIREDC chose a daily winner that would receive $100 towards impacting their own neighborhoods. The first winner was Suzanne Jones of Salem UMC in Keedysville. She chose to address the problem of homelessness. Through the game, she drew two resources: “trampoline” and “an artist willing to do something for you.”  Her winning idea was the following:

“Have an artist bring materials to paint a building or tall wall or mural. Have community members paint/write negative ideas about homelessness all over it. Then with paint-filled balloons, jump on the trampoline and throw the  ‘color bombs’ to ‘wipe out’ the negative connotations of homelessness. Hopefully by the end, it will be a building/wall/mural full of beautiful colors. The $100 would purchase any needed food & music & flyers & advertising.”

The second winner was David Gross of New Street Church in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Gross chose to tackle the problem of Food Insecurity. His randomly selected resources were “10 Go-Pros” and a “Graphic Design Student.” Here is his winning idea:

“I would give a go-pro to one person/family in each ward (in Washington, D.C.) Each would make a mini-documentary on their routine to shop for healthy, fresh, affordable food. Document the kind and numbers of plans, variety, and appearance of foods, list of the food bill, edit into a larger video and show on tv to raise awareness or make each individual video into a video tour exhibit. Have a graphic artist make a giant map of D.C. wards. Put a video monitor in each ward and have participants walk through the map to witness the shopping experience of each family in different wards.”

Other unique ideas included using popcorn as currency to teach people about economic opportunity or using a coffee machine and 1 to 2 hours of community center space to start a program for young professionals called “Coffee with a CEO.”

The entries were judged by the Young Adult Council.  It’s safe to say, reading the potential that participants could reach with just $100, makes everyone involved a winner.