(Bahá’í Community of Juneau photo)

(Bahá’í Community of Juneau photo)

Living and Growing: Empowering youth through service — the Baha’i Junior Youth Group in our community

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan, the original inhabitants of Lingít Aaní. We pay respect to the Áakʼw Ḵwáan elders, both past and present, and honor the spiritual wisdom they bring to our society.

The Baha’i Faith, like the Tlingit culture, places great emphasis on the spiritual and moral development of youth, recognizing their potential to drive social change and build a better future. Recently our local Baha’i community has embarked on an exciting journey with the establishment of a Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program (JYSEP), aimed at empowering young people of the community through service.

Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, emphasized the unique potential and responsibility of young people. He said, “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” This principle underscores the Baha’i belief that youth are not just future leaders, but active contributors to society today.

JYSEP believes true education is twofold: it consists of material education related to all intellectual fields of human endeavor, as well as education that refines character and the qualities of the human spirit, enabling people to make sound moral choices. When both these elements come together, the result is “light upon light.” In these times, when new challenges affect our communities daily, the Baha’is of Juneau, assisted by others in the community, want to empower young people to realize their true potential as builders of a just and peaceful world.

JYSEP is an educational process that seeks to engage individuals and families in an advancing conversation about the intellectual and moral empowerment of young adolescents — those ages roughly 11 to 15. The program is dependent upon the voluntary service of older youth who act as true friends and wise advisers to their younger peers. The program seeks to assist young people in navigating a crucial stage of life, one in which they shall encounter both tremendous opportunities and challenges as they investigate the world and develop their sense of identity. The program is founded upon the belief that those in their early adolescence possess altruism, a sense of justice, and a desire to contribute to the construction of a better world.

Following the Tlingit value of “Hold Each Other Up” and “Being Stewards of the Air, Land, and Sea” Junea’s JYSEP is established on the concept of service. Service is seen as a path to personal and societal transformation, fostering qualities such as empathy, cooperation, and leadership. In this spirit, our junior youth group engages in various activities that blend learning with action, nurturing both the hearts and minds of its participants. Through the path of service and engaging in meaningful activities that promote critical thinking, moral reasoning, and social responsibility, junior youth will enhance their spiritual and intellectual capacities. They will be empowered to identify and address the needs of their communities and become agents of positive change.

Our newly formed junior youth group has met a few times, laying the foundation for many impactful activities to come. These initial meetings have focused on building a sense of community and understanding the principles of the program. The group members have shown remarkable enthusiasm and a strong desire to make a difference in their community.

The junior youth group embodies the Baha’i vision of youth as active contributors to the betterment of society. Their enthusiasm and dedication remind us of the profound impact that empowered youth can have on building a united and vibrant community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported this initiative and invite anyone interested to join us in this transformative journey.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Adam Bauer at Juneau@akbnc.org.

• Adam Bauer and Soha Azargan are animators for the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program operated by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. “Living & Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Saturday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.

More in Neighbors

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Living and Growing: The light of the world

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the… Continue reading

Orange apricot muffins ready to eat. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Orange apricot muffins for breakfast

A few years ago when I had a bag of oranges and… Continue reading

Tari Stage-Harvey is pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Courtesy photo)
Living and Growing: Watching our words for other people

I could be wrong, but the only time Jesus directly talks about… Continue reading

A person walks along the tideline adjacent to the Airport Dike Trail on Thursday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gimme A Smile: Help me up

I fell on the ice the other day. One minute, I was… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Living and Growing: Imagine the comfort of Jesus’ promise of heaven

Earlier this month, former president Jimmy Carter died at the age of… Continue reading

Caesar salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Restaurant-style Caesar salad

When I go to a fine restaurant and Caesar salad is on… Continue reading

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Living and Growing: Free will

Genesis 1: 26 -28 And God said, Let us make man in… Continue reading

Becky Corson is a member of Shepherd Of The Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo provided by Becky Corson)
Living and Growing: ‘Secondhand’ can be a wonderful way to go

These clothing sales are ruining my life. Maybe that’s an overstatement. It’s… Continue reading

A sculpture of Constantine the Great by Philip Jackson in York. (Public domain photo republished under a Creative Commons license)
Living and Growing: Christianity or Churchianity?

Several cruise ship passengers arriving in Juneau this September were greeted on… Continue reading

Szechwan-style fish ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Fish Szechwan style

Ever since I started writing this column, I have debated whether to… Continue reading

Fred LaPlante is the pastor at Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy photo)
Living and Growing: Reflections from Advent

Do you feel pulled in so many directions this Christmas season? I… Continue reading

Members of the Juneau Ski Team offer cookies and other treats to people in the Senate Mall during this year’s Gallery Walk on Friday, Dec. 6. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gimme A Smile: Gifts through the ages

Why is it that once the gift-giving holidays are over and the… Continue reading