Waynflete hosts sixth annual New England Youth Identity Summit

Waynflete hosted the sixth annual New England Youth Identity Summit on April 2. This year’s event drew almost 200 students, teachers, and volunteers from six states—including at least 15 Maine high schools—for a full day of learning, listening, and community building. The program featured inspiring speakers, student-led workshops, dialogue sessions, and performances designed to build bridges and create a vision for strong multicultural communities. The event’s guiding theme was “Tell it like it is, make it what it can be.”

The Summit offered more than two dozen workshops on subjects ranging from climate change and education policy to spiritual identity and gender issues. The keynote speaker was South Portland Mayor Deqa Dhalac—the first Somali-American mayor in the United States—who thrilled and motivated the audience with stories of her experience with community organizing and activism. 

Individuals interested in attending next year’s Summit can join an email list at waynflete.org/summit-email.