Founded in 1946, today’s EFC continues to be responsive to the particular needs of today’s young people — future leaders who live every day in our fractured society where fascism, violence against people of color, and environmental crises are rising. In response to COVID-19, the Encampment went virtual but we are excited to announce that the 2022 Encampment be in-person. Meanwhile, having access to new technology has meant that we can provide stronger support to the most recent Encampers, including our four-month follow-up program. You’ll learn more about that from Mariana, a 2021 Encamper.
In this appeal, two alums from different continents, separated by nearly 75 years, talk about how the EFC has influenced their lives and work. We urge you to take action — to support the Encampment’s work with young leaders who, with our help, are shaping the future. They are eager to create a more just world — and save the planet.
Jean McGuire, a 1948 Encamper, says, “Al Black [EFC’s co-founder] told us that there’s always danger in a democracy and we have to be vigilant. We talked about leaders like Hitler and the anti-Japanese sentiment that allowed Japanese-Americans to be interned. We had to memorize the preamble of the Constitution. We were encouraged to be “we the people” and act on that knowledge. I met people I would never have met otherwise … the EFC puts together people who would never talk to each other. The EFC’s role in educating young hearts and minds about democracy is more important than it’s ever been in this country. It changes lives, bringing young people together, opening them to more expansive ideas, and helping them support the democratic institutions protecting freedom of expression and our other rights. “
Jean went on to do ground-breaking work after her Encampment: “It strengthened my commitment to ‘Wherever you are, make it better — that’s what life is about.’ I was a teacher in Boston and I wanted do something to improve education for Black students. I ran for the Boston School Committee and I was elected as the first Black woman in their history. I helped establish and then ran (for more than 45 years) a voluntary school desegregation program in Boston that buses students of color in Boston to predominantly white schools throughout Boston suburbs, so our Black students could get a better education from well-funded schools.”
Mariana put her EFC experience to work soon after her summer intensive. As part of the four-month follow-up program, she established a sustainability program at her school. “The Encampment encouraged me to be an active person in my community. You guys put us out there and made us ask questions and interview the people who are part of our communities. That’s how I came up with my action plan.
“I focused on eighth and ninth graders. We had a week of lectures where we discussed a lot about sustainability. This was a bit difficult for me to start because I'm a shy person. It was something way out of my comfort zone. Now we have an ongoing project based on composting at school. The students collect the food scraps from their homes and take them to the next project meeting. And they’re really excited! They’re inviting new friends to go to the project!”
We asked Mariana why the Encampment is important now. She replied:
“There are a lot of issues to be addressed these days: racial crimes, the environmental crisis; such big problems to be solved in the world right now. Democracy is in danger and we youth have to act and do something about it because the future will impact us and our children, our grandchildren.
“Yeah, it's way easier to just sit and wait for the future to happen instead of trying to make the world a better place, but that’s the work of the Encampment — to make young people aware of what’s happening in the world and give them the tools to address these issues and build community wherever they are.“
We invite you to help young people like Mariana create the future by supporting EFC’s work today.
Here’s the way we work
At the EFC's summer intensive, young people from very different backgrounds:
- share their cultures and communities, building understanding and empathy;
- create a multicultural democratic community;
- develop critical thinking, organizing and research skills;
- learn about using the arts to engage communities;
- hear from changemakers who provide information and inspiration.
After the summer intensive:
- A four-month follow-up program supports action plans like Mariana's.
- Stipended Internships support continuing skills development and career preparation in Ventura County, CA — the Pesticide-Free Soil Project provides continuing skills development with COVID-safe programming for local youth.
Encampers participate from all over the U.S. and beyond. They bring their passion and determination to make change. We provide the experiences, resources and community that are vital for their success. Today’s young people are facing challenges that were inconceivable at the EFC’s inception and yet the core philosophy remains: Young people want to create a just world. The Encampment provides the experiences and skills they need to make this real. This support is needed now more than ever.
Alum Carol Shannon Hsu is offering her beautiful VOTE pins as a gift to donors $250 and up. Inspire a core value of democracy with this stylish pin valued at $120 (actual size 1 7/8 " square) from now until our year-end appeal concludes on December 31.