10 guides for Program Path

Here is an outline of the program's path:

1. Humanity: Grounding our group with ethical agreements and values-based practices to bring out the best in one another, and thereby ourselves, we will touch upon Ethical Culture's history and guiding Humanist principles, applicable to people of all life-affirming world views. Practices of compassion, gratitude and respect will guide our work throughout the journey.  Participants will form group agreements together.

2. Personal World Views: Where we are coming from matters: ancestory, family values and holiday practices, heroes and aspirations, inventory on personal vision. We will make reference to materials in THE DISCOVERY JOURNAL by esteemed Ethical Culture Leader/Educator Lois Kellerman  in exploring our changing selves.

3. Mentorship:  Each individual participant, in dialogue with their families, may engage an Ethical Culture mentor to supportively witness them through the journey. Mentors can be suggested by the program director or chosen by the family.

4. Heroes and Inspirations:  We will learn together and teach one another about people who have done great works for the betterment of humanity. 

5. Cross-cultural/Interfaith Study  of cosmologies: We can study ways that the world is understood by different people throughout history, religion and culture. We can be aided by several resources in our study, including magnificent books, and field trips to diverse spaces of worship and practices of contemplation.  The book Four Corners of the Sky by NYC Folklorist Steve Zeitlin is a wonderful resources we can draw upon.

6. Wellness and Communication Skills: Our workshop time will integrate healthy relationship building, expressive practices (theater/movement), compassionate development, identity development, and empathetic relationship, self-defense (saying no to things that can be harmful), environmental and personal well being, challenges to oppression, injustice,  and stereotypes.

7. DEED and service: Global awareness and action are growing in our lives. The group will explore DEED collectively and individually, as it can be practiced on a daily level and as it can be created or supported on an organizational level. We will be exploring impact and intent,  and awakening our capacity to create the positive impacts that fulfill our intent.

8. Leadership: Each participant is invited to create, collaborate on, and contribute to passion projects. With help, this may lead to intergenerational workshops, sharing project inquiries and learnings.  Participants will be teammates in support of each others interests.  

9. Ceremony/Celebration:  Participants will be asked to share their overall journey with the larger community, their family and friends in a culminating event of honor.

10. Family Collaboration:  Family members are encouraged to stay closely tied to the ethical processes of their young ones at NYSEC and to engage in their own ethical explorations here at NYSEC as well.    Families may choose to consider allying themselves as MEMBER or FRIEND FAMILIES to New York Society for Ethical Culture during this process.  Program scholarships can be requested.