Spring Break
Grad works to boost youth social activism
By: Beth Feldman
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
Last update: 10/11/07 at 6:54 AM EST
Last update: 10/11/07 at 6:54 AM EST
- Page 1 of 1
Matthew Bennett, Trinity '05, is battling disengagement among the youth of today.
In 2006 the recent graduate began the Purpose Project, a nonprofit organization based in Hartford, Conn., dedicated to engaging young adults in overcoming social challenges.
Bennett said the project was inspired by his experience working with Plowshares Institute, a nonprofit that specializes in international peace-building training.
He said the organization seemed to reach a standstill as Bob and Alice Evans, who founded Plowshares, grew older. He said this slowing was similar to a growing trend among social leaders of the 20th century.
Bennett said he found that as the "founders generation" was retiring and no longer able to produce social change, the current youth were being criticized for their apathy.
He found, however, that youth did care, and developed the project to help inspire them to act.
"Rather than dismissing the older generation as has-beens, [the project seeks to engage youth] to inspire others," Bennett said.
At the center of the project is a book called "Passion and Purpose," which will focus on the stories of 10 social leaders, beginning with the Evanses.
Bennett, along with Michelle Cote, codirector of the project, uses the older generation of social change-makers as examples for young people to learn from and create better future strategies, he said.
Bennett and Cote said they hope the book can bridge the gap between generations because it is written by the younger generation for the younger generation.
They are also developing a curriculum to accompany the book as well as a Web site to "find a clearing house of ways to get involved and take action."
Joel Fleishman, professor of law and public policy studies, said the project could provide a useful model for youth to build on to get involved.
"We all are influenced by examples," he said. "Too many of these examples are celebrities, people living meaningless lives. We need models engaging to better the lives of others."
In 2006 the recent graduate began the Purpose Project, a nonprofit organization based in Hartford, Conn., dedicated to engaging young adults in overcoming social challenges.
Bennett said the project was inspired by his experience working with Plowshares Institute, a nonprofit that specializes in international peace-building training.
He said the organization seemed to reach a standstill as Bob and Alice Evans, who founded Plowshares, grew older. He said this slowing was similar to a growing trend among social leaders of the 20th century.
Bennett said he found that as the "founders generation" was retiring and no longer able to produce social change, the current youth were being criticized for their apathy.
He found, however, that youth did care, and developed the project to help inspire them to act.
"Rather than dismissing the older generation as has-beens, [the project seeks to engage youth] to inspire others," Bennett said.
At the center of the project is a book called "Passion and Purpose," which will focus on the stories of 10 social leaders, beginning with the Evanses.
Bennett, along with Michelle Cote, codirector of the project, uses the older generation of social change-makers as examples for young people to learn from and create better future strategies, he said.
Bennett and Cote said they hope the book can bridge the gap between generations because it is written by the younger generation for the younger generation.
They are also developing a curriculum to accompany the book as well as a Web site to "find a clearing house of ways to get involved and take action."
Joel Fleishman, professor of law and public policy studies, said the project could provide a useful model for youth to build on to get involved.
"We all are influenced by examples," he said. "Too many of these examples are celebrities, people living meaningless lives. We need models engaging to better the lives of others."
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