::: Sunday :::
Ryan Kanswe
6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004
Youth Leader and Student, Zambia, Africa
Ryan is dynamic young man who has a natural gift in reaching out to young people and adults alike. He has presented at various conferences throughout Africa speaking on the issues of human rights, environmental awareness and youth development. Ryan represented his county in 1999 at the Millennium Young People’s Congress that met in Hawaii and has worked with the London-based Peace Child International project called, “Be the Change”. He is presently studying in America on a student visa and has strong interests in student leadership and government. Ryan’s address this year at the 2004 Unleashing the Power conference will inspire all attendees as he shares part of his story growing up in Africa and how he has come to value to true meaning of the word “freedom”. Ryan is presently enrolled in Texas A & M University studying Business Management and resides in Irving, TX.
Keynote Address: Maximizing Opportunities: Making the Right Choices
Coming from a background where opportunity is as rare as it is elusive, learning how to maximize possibilities
which most take for granted, is a valuable life lesson. Growing up in an environment where the ability to dream
is dim, choice is a strange concept. Through the use of pictures and stories of life in Africa, Ryan will re-kindle the
ages-old idea that anything in life is possible and people can become who they want to be.
::: Monday :::
Dr. Crystal Kuykendall
8:15 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2004
Motivational Speaker and Author, Potomac, MD
Crystal is a highly engaging motivational speaker, endearing author and loving mother. After receiving four scholarships at the age of sixteen, she went on to earn post-graduate degrees in both education and law. She is a former teacher and has served as the Executive Director of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. In 1979, she was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the National Advisory Council on Continuing Education where she served as Council Chairperson from 1979- 1981. She is the author of Developing Leadership for Parent/Citizen Groups in Improving Black Student Achievement through Enhancing Self-Image. Her most popular book is the bestseller, entitled, From Rage to Hope: Reclaiming Black and Hispanic Students. In 1989, Dr. Kuykendall founded Kreative and Innovative Resources for Kids (KIRK). Through KIRK she provides long-term technical assistance and consulting services to an increasing number of national and international clients. This is done through individual endeavors as well as through the use of a team of expert consultants, when needed. Crystal lives in Potomac, MD
Keynote Address: Unleashing the Power of Tomorrow’s Leaders
Through a high-powered presentation sharing insight on the apathy, hopelessness and alienation that exists in
some youth, Crystal will share how to remove obstacles that often preclude success in children and teens.
This address will explore the potential of youth and show how concerned citizens and community members
can impact youth development. Experience the exhilaration of being inspired to be more hopeful, more positive
and more convinced that your passions can bring out the best in all youth.
Mervlyn Kitashima
3:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2004
Parenting and Resiliency Expert, Honolulu, HI
Mervlyn is the parent coordinator at the Parents and Alumni Relations Department of the Kamehameha Schools. She has developed parent and family involvement curriculum and training for the State of Hawaii’s Department of Education’s Parent Community Networking Center Program, Hawaii’s parents, teachers and administrators. Mrs. Kitashima has served on the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Governor’s Commission on Teacher Morale, as commissioner of the Aloha Region USA Junior Volleyball and many other community and educational organizations. Drawing on her experiences as a teenage mother, mother of seven, grandmother of six and wife of 32 years, Mrs. Kitashima has traveled widely as a motivating communicator. Her speaking engagements have included institutes and seminars at universities and colleges, state and national conferences on education, prevention, juvenile justice, student assistance and numerous schools, organizations, communities and churches. Most recently Mervlyn has been named the 2003 State of Hawaii and the National Mother of the Year by American Mothers Incorporated, an organization dedicated to strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of the home and family. She lives in Honolulu, HI.
Keynote Address: No More “Children at Risk” -- Now it’s “Children at Promise”
Drawing on her experiences as a teenage mother, mother of seven, grandmother of seven and wife of thirty-two years, Mervlyn has traveled widely as a motivating communicator and has come to believe that labeling children is a major part of the problem with our culture. Mervlyn will share a very personal account of the factors that contributed to her ability to overcome the odds. Emphasis will be on the possibilities, potential and promise possessed by every child, even in the face of adversity.
::: Tuesday :::
Daniel Horgan
8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004
America’s Promise Director and Activist, Pittsburgh, PA
Daniel is a youth activist who at the age of nineteen, founded Allegheny County’s Promise, (Pittsburgh, PA), and now serves as the youngest director on the board for America’s Promise, which was established under the leadership of Colin Powell, United States Secretary of State. In a few short years he has raised over $1 million to support his organization’s work. Daniel was recently recognized by President George W. Bush and Secretary Powell at the White House for his leadership with the America’s Promise movement. He is presently the Executive Director of Allegheny County’s Promise and lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
Keynote Address: The Power of Youth
In 2001, teenagers spent over $100 billion themselves and convinced their parents to spend another $50 billion dollars in the marketplace. They volunteered 2.4 billions hours totaling $34 billion in services to the community. Daniel will challenge participants to reflect on the power that young people possess with an emphasis on their influence in the economy and in the public sector. Using research, personal experiences, and audience participation, Daniel will inspire critical thinking that will lead to a paradigm shift in the way we unleash the power of youth and community potential.
Alannah Hurley (with Derek Peterson)
3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004
Youth Leader and Yupik Eskimo, Dillingham, AK
Alannah was born and raised in rural Alaska. She is a Yupik Eskimo and loves to share with others the wisdom of her culture. Alannah founded a Yupik Eskimo dance group her freshmen year in high school to help bring Eskimo culture back into her school. She is currently a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and is considering a career in a service field. When she is not busy with school you’ll most likely find her camping or on the basketball court. She has presented at many statewide events, including the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Conference, and hopes to inspire people to love themselves. In 2003 Alannah presented the keynote address (along with Derek Peterson) at the National Search Institute conference in Son Jose, CA. Alannah wants to help people discover, that they have the power to become the positive change they wish to see.
Keynote Address: The Story Behind The Story.
From the Inupiat and Yupik Eskimo of the Alaskan north, to the Bushman of the Kalahari of Botswana. From the Zapotec Indians of South central Mexico to the Navajo of Northern Arizona their reply to the developmental assets framework has always been the same, “this is our stuff”. A people’s knowledge, a family’s love,and an individual’s action are why asset building is a timeless framework in a time of unprecedented change. This keynote will focus on how the assets framework is supported by the traditional stories of indigenous people around the globe.
Derek Peterson (with Alannah Hurley)
3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004
Asset Ambassador and Consutlant, Juneau, AK
Derek is the former Director of Child/Youth Advocacy for the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) and is now a full time consultant in the youth development field. While working with the AASB’s Advocacy Initiatives he promoted the shared responsibility for educating Alaska’s public school children. Literally traveling by plane, boats, dog sleds and snowshoes, Derek traveled throughout Alaska delivering teacher in-services, school board seminars, student leadership workshops and community nights. He is a former college vice president and taught a popular course for many years called Human Development and the Humanities. He has designed and facilitated workshops for over a thousand audiences throughout the United States, Mexico, and Africa, on topics related to personal responsibility and community building. He holds a master’s degree in counseling, which he claims to have never used. A quote that is often associated with Derek is “Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, and watching the evidence change.” Listening to Derek one learns how to watch the evidence change. He lives in Juneau, AK.
Keynote Address: The Story Behind The Story.
From the Inupiat and Yupik Eskimo of the Alaskan north, to the Bushman of the Kalahari of Botswana. From the Zapotec Indians of South central Mexico to the Navajo of Northern Arizona their reply to the developmental assets framework has always been the same, “this is our stuff”. A people’s knowledge, a family’s love,and an individual’s action are why asset building is a timeless framework in a time of unprecedented change. This keynote will focus on how the assets framework is supported by the traditional stories of indigenous people around the globe.
