Clubhouse Gathering Together We Rise a Success
This summer, The Clubhouse Network hosted Together We Rise, a virtual youth leadership event for youth members, age 13 to 18 at Clubhouses and Teen Tech Centers from around the world. Youth who attended the event had the opportunity to engage in a global community, gain new technology skills, learn from mentors and one another, and have fun! Through workshops, presentations, and networking, Clubhouse members and alumni were encouraged to see themselves as the next generation of inventors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Together We Rise brought together 107 members representing 37 Clubhouses and Teen Tech Centers in our Network. They were joined by 12 alumni, 20 presenters from our community (both youth, adults, and alumni), and 16 external presenters from 16 sessions.
The title and theme “Together We Rise” reflects the resilience, creativity, and leadership that Clubhouse youth have shown in the last year, as they experienced—and continue to experience—a global pandemic, economic inequalities, racism, and xenophobia. Despite these immense challenges, young people rose to the occasion by creating PSAs about safety measures, designing creative solutions like 3D-printed masks, leading protests against police brutality, and speaking out about their educational experiences. Member projects from Clubhouse Network initiatives, #ClubhouseVoices: A Youth Response to Covid-19 and Racism and the annual RE@CH Media Festival also inspired the theme and were represented throughout the event.
“I think the most valuable thing was the participation. [Youth] were fulfilling their dreams; some as presenters, singing, dancing and others showing their projects. It was great.”
– Clubhouse Alum, event attendee
During a workshop entitled “Clubhouse Voices,” 15-year-old Parmis from the Flagship Clubhouse in Roxbury, MA kicked off the session with a reflection on the theme, Together We Rise. She said, “This mission truly resonates with me, especially because I am a girl who is interested in innovative design, engineering, and building things with my own hands. I owe it to the Flagship Clubhouse which has been and still is a space for me to continue with these passions and grow.” Parmis was joined by seven other Clubhouse and Teen Tech Center Members and alumni who reflected on the theme, discussed how they were using technology for activism, and provided advice to their peers.
Watch a Recording of the
“Clubhouse Voices” Presentation:
Together We Rise began and ended with brief comments from Clubhouse Network Youth Leadership Program Manager, Christine Monska. Her closing remarks: “I can’t wait to see what the future holds with young people at the helm. As Malala, one of my favorite youth leaders said, ‘Often, we think we are too young, or our ideas may not work, and we need to grow up to bring change. I just say no. Whatever you want to do now, you can do it now.’ The Clubhouse community truly is doing it now.”
Watch recordings of workshops from Together We Rise
Thank you to our generous Together We Rise sponsors and partners!
The Clubhouse Network is an international community of more than 100 Clubhouses located in 21 countries, providing youth with life-changing opportunities for over 25 years. Each Clubhouse provides a creative, safe, and free out-of-school learning environment where young people from underserved communities work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop new skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology.