YouthLEAD on FacebookTIDE: Wave of Change Conference
TIDE Conference 2012
Sponsored by Youth LEAD, Inc. in collaboration with the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
Date: Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2012 – mark your calendars!
How to Register Early registration deadline: April 15, 2012
Register before April 15 for early registration pricing! Click here to register for the TIDE 2012 Wave of Change Conference.
Attendee - with Friday and Saturday night stay: $225 Out-of-state attendee - with Friday and Saturday night stay plus additional Sunday night stay (does not include meals on Sunday night/Monday morning): $275 Attendee - conference only, no overnights: $145 Late registration deadline: May 1, 2012
Attendee - with Friday and Saturday night stay: $275 Out-of-state attendee - with Friday and Saturday night stay plus additional Sunday night stay (does not include meals on Sunday night/Monday morning): $325 Attendee - conference only, no overnights: $195
We are making arrangements to provide opportunity for interested conference attendees to attend services for Shavuot on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The website will be updated as details become available. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Karin Firoza, Youth Leadership program Director. The standard conference fee covers the cost of attending all of the conference workshops, housing in a Northeastern University dorm room on Friday and Saturday evening, and all meals for the weekend. Linens (pillows, sheets, towels) are provided. Payment is expected at the time of registration, either via PayPal or credit card online, or by check made payable to Youth LEAD, Inc. and received within ten business days of your registration.
Partial scholarships to help cover the cost of attending and traveling to the conference are available on a limited basis. Youth seeking scholarships should request an application form and submit the completed version to Julie Novio, TIDE Scholarship Coordinator.
Required Forms
All conference attendees under the age of 18 must download, complete, and return the TIDE Health and Consent form, Behavioral Code of Conduct form, and the Appearance Authorization form in order to participate in the 2012 TIDE Conference. These forms will be emailed to each registered participant upon completion of the online registration process. While you may submit these forms upon arrival, we encourage participants to e-mail them ahead of time to ensure a smooth arrival process.If you have any urgent questions, please contact Kelley Paradis, TIDE Registrar.
Refund Policy
Refunds for the 2012 TIDE Conference are available on a restricted basis. All registered conference attendees are subject to our refund policy, outlined below:
* 50% refund at any point during Early Registration period (February 15-April 15, 2012)
* No refunds after Early Registration period ends
Please allow 3-6 weeks for refund processing.
About TIDE
The Teenage Identity and Diversity Education (TIDE) Conference is planned and led by teens who want to have their voices heard and their presence felt as a positive force in the global community. A three-day event planned by fifty high school students of diverse backgrounds, the conference seeks to train teens to communicate respectfully and use their skills in discussions about highly charged issues and to foster bonds and friendships among the youth in attendance that will continue after the conference. Conference attendees participate in workshops, dialogues, and other activities throughout the weekend that allow them to discover more about themselves and their own understanding of personal identity; learn about the beliefs and identities of others; and make their voices heard at a conference that has been planned by high school students specifically for their peers. Parents and/or other adults working with youth may attend the conference sessions open to adults throughout the weekend.
TIDE 2012 Conference Content
Each year, the specific activities and content of the conference change slightly as the planning committees build a unique event that will be meaningful and interesting to both new and returning attendees. However, the following description reflects the general nature of the conference content and prospective attendees can expect an event that is similarly structured, though the specific activities and topics may vary from year to year.
On Friday evening, after checking-in at the conference dormitory for the weekend and enjoying a meal in one of Northeastern University’s excellent dining halls, conference attendees participate in an opening ceremony led by the TIDE Executive Committee, which serves to introduce participants to the conference goals and acknowledge everyone who has made the conference possible. For the rest of the night, attendees participate in a series of activities that are designed to foster bonds and friendships among the youth in attendance that will continue throughout the weekend.
On Saturday, conference attendees travel through a series of three pre-planned workshops that are guided by trained facilitators. The workshops emphasize reflection on personal identity and beliefs, communication across differences through focused listening and the use of probing questions, and critical thinking about how these skills can be applied in the real world and in one’s personal life. These workshops are entirely run by high school students serving on Youth LEAD’s TIDE Facilitation Committee. All other high school attendees are assigned to a specific workshop group for this three-part workshop series, and adult attendees participate in a separate but parallel adult track, also guided by trained Youth LEAD facilitators.
On Sunday, conference attendees may choose from a variety of topical workshops that teens and adults alike have applied to present at the conference, each of which has been accepted into the conference by a youth-led review committee. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to attend three separate workshops throughout the day. Although the topics covered in these Sunday sessions vary depending on the nature of the proposals submitted, a sample of previous workshop titles is included below:
What’s Wrong with Kids/Adults Today? - A Youth-Adult Dialogue Balancing Science and Secularism in Today’s Society: A Dialogue
Food & Faith: Boosting Knowledge, Breaking Barriers, and Building Friendship Through Food-Focused Programming
Mentoring for Youth Empowerment
Acceptance Through Storytelling
A Liberal, Forward-Thinking Islam and Pluralist Green Movement of Iran
Balancing Science and Secularism in Today’s Society: A Dialogue
Discovering the Evolution of East Asian Culture and Art
Watch our website for updates on signing up for this year’s Sunday workshops!
On Sunday evening, conference attendees participate in a final closing ceremony to reflect on the weekend, make plans to carry on what they have learned, and say good-bye to new and old friends. Periods of free time and various other activities are dispersed throughout the weekend, in addition to the workshops, activities, and sessions described here.
History of TIDE
The TIDE Conference is the creation of Dan Resnick, a former Youth LEAD student, who wanted high school students to have a chance to experience the power of teen-run interfaith programs. To prepare for such an event, Dan worked with a committee of his peers to write a proposal to Dr. Diana Eck, Director of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University; recruited participants; planned and facilitated the activities; and coordinated the event logistics. On June 26, 2007, after six months of planning, our Youth LEADers held the first annual TIDE Conference at Harvard University. Over fifty high school students from across New England attended the conference.
In 2010, the TIDE Conference expanded into a three-day event at Northeastern University. The multi-day conference now includes a pre-planned workshop series for both teens and adults on Saturday, as well as a plethora of original topical presentations and workshops on Sunday. In 2011, TIDE became a truly national event, with participants coming from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Washington D.C., Ohio, and California.
Beginning with the 2012 planning season, the TIDE acronym changed from Teenage Interfaith Diversity Education to Teenage Identity and Diversity Education. The shift from interfaith to identity will allow Youth LEAD to expand the scope of topics covered within the conference and the audience the conference can reach, while continuing to include interfaith work and faith-based differences as an integral component of the discussions around identity that have formed the foundation of the TIDE Conference from the very beginning.
How to Present at TIDE
We strongly encourage outside groups to present their work during the Sunday track of the conference. Teens may run an interactive workshop that allows us to learn about their program, lead a session about their particular faith tradition, share a performance of some kind, and much more! Adults may also submit an application to present at the conference, provided that their workshop is relevant to youth leadership in diversity initiatives and education.
If you are interested in presenting at TIDE, please contact Karin Firoza for an application. Completed applications must be submitted by April 1, 2012.
What to Bring
We recommend that prospective attendees use our suggested packing list to determine which items will be useful during their stay, and to ensure that they come prepared with everything they will need for the weekend. Attendees may wish to bring additional items not mentioned on the list; this is not a problem. Attendees should bring anything that will make their stay more comfortable and enjoyable.
Arriving at TIDE
We expect all conference attendees to arrive at northeastern University between 4-6pm on Friday, May 25th. Northeastern University staff request that you bring photo identification with you at check-in. Examples include a driver’s license, state ID, school ID card, or a passport. If you do not have a picture ID, please plan to bring other official identifying paperwork (e.g., a copy of your birth certificate).
Please check back regularly for more information about the arrival process, which will be posted as it becomes available. If you have an urgent question, please contact Karin Firoza.
Where to Park
Overnight attendees who will be bringing a vehicle and those wishing to park during the arrival and departure process should park in the Renaissance Parking Garage at 835 Columbus Avenue. Overnight attendees who will be bringing a vehicle should contact a Youth LEAD staff representative to request parking passes in advance of attending the conference. The 24-hour rate for advanced parking requests is $7.00/day. Only advance requests can be accommodated at this rate. Directions from the parking garage to White Hall can be found on the campus map.
Departing from TIDE
The 2012 TIDE Conference will officially close by 5pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012. Daytime attendees should plan to sign out with a Youth LEAD representative and depart at that time. Overnight attendees will have two hours to pack their belongings, check out of their rooms, return their keycards, and depart. Out-of-state attendees who have opted to stay an additional night will not be served meals on-campus and will not be supervised by Northeastern University or TIDE or Youth LEAD representatives.
Please check back regularly for more information about the departure process, which will be posted as it becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can adults attend the conference?
Yes! Adults can absolutely attend the TIDE conference, and are encouraged to do so! On Saturday, adults at the conference will attend a separate adult track that mirrors the workshop series in which the youth will participate. On Sunday, adults will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of topical workshops that are specifically open to adults. Adults may also submit an application to present at the conference; see below for more details.
Can I present a workshop at the conference?
Yes! We encourage outside groups to present their work during the Sunday track of the conference. Teens may run an interactive workshop that allows us to learn about their program, lead a session about their particular faith tradition, share a performance of some kind, and much more! Adults may also submit an application to present at the conference, provided that their workshop is relevant to youth leadership in diversity initiatives and education. However, as the TIDE Conference is a place where teens take charge, adults may only present their workshop to other adults in attendance. Please see the How to Present at TIDE section above for more information.
How safe is the conference and Northeastern University campus?
The safety and security of all TIDE Conference participants is Youth LEAD’s top priority. It is important to remember, however, that all participants are responsible for following the Code of Conduct that they have signed upon registering. The Northeastern University campus is responsible for protecting hundreds of university students during the academic year and is equipped with numerous safety procedures. Upon arrival, all participants will be issued a name badge for the conference to readily identify themselves as part of the 2012 TIDE experience. To enhance the safety of conference participants, Youth LEAD will assign a Participant Assistant to each teen in attendance. Additionally, a Youth LEAD staff person will be available by cell phone 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies. Dorm building and individual rooms are accessible by keycards, which will be distributed upon arrival. The dorm floors are single-gender and the dorm building is exclusively dedicated to TIDE Conference attendees.
How do I find the Northeastern University campus? What are housing and food like during the conference? Meals are provided to all conference participants for the duration of the conference weekend. All meals will be served in an on-campus cafeteria. The Northeastern University Food Service is adept at meeting the requirements and tastes of the diverse campus it serves. You may indicate any dietary restrictions when you register online. Conference participants may also bring pre-prepared meals that meet their dietary needs and store them in the dormitory kitchen.
Please click here for directions to Northeastern University. Click here for a printable campus map that will help you find your way around once you’ve arrived at the school.
All those registering to stay overnight will be housed on the Northeastern University campus. Each overnight guest will be issued a keycard for entry to the dorm building as well as their individual room. Each dorm room comes with two twin beds and two desks for storage. Linens (pillows, sheets, and towels) may be requested for an additional $20 during the online registration process. Conference participants who do not request linens during the registration process will need to bring their own to the conference. Teens are assigned to standard double dorm rooms. Roommates will be assigned randomly to all teen registrants to foster new bonds between the youth in attendance. If anyone has major concerns about the roommate selection process, please contact a Youth LEAD staff member to share your concerns, and we will do our best to meet your needs. Adults may opt to stay in standard single or standard double dorm rooms. The dorm floors are single-gender and the dorm building is exclusively dedicated to TIDE Conference attendees. The student-chaperone ratio is 10:1. Campus security and health services will be provided by Northeastern University.
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