Kindness Through Connection: An Introduction to the Riley’s Way Youth Leadership Retreat

A panel held on the topic of identity featuring speakers Agha Haider, Alia Carponter-Walker, Andreanela Ordoñez Carbajal, Jiahao Guo, and Paul Aviles.

Written by Brody S. ‘27

Over the first weekend of October, 100 individuals from across the country embarked on a voyage to Tyler Hill, Pennsylvania, evading storm clouds and a torrential downpour with smiles across their faces to reach the site of 2023’s Riley’s Way Youth Leadership Retreat. From Portland to Frisco, these leaders aged 14 to 18 participated in team-building activities, youth-led seminars, panel discussions, and leadership workshops, all in the efforts of connecting the Riley’s Way community and forging the next generation of leaders.

“The Riley’s Way Retreat was an excellent experience to connect with young leaders from across the country doing extraordinary work,”Dylan Zajac, Riley’s Way Youth Advisory Board Member and Founder of Computers 4 People said. “I was excited to be a mentor and guide my bunk through a special weekend. The retreat allowed me to foster new connections, learn about identity, and become a better leader.”

But first, an introduction to Riley’s Way! Riley’s Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth leadership, bringing empathy to all, and fostering a kinder future. With the organization's  support, thousands of individuals actualized the change they wanted to see within their communities. The organization adheres to a core philosophy of Kindness, Empathy, Inclusivity, and an emphasis on the youth through a multitude of programs and events, both on a local and national scale.

The group drives change and realizes our core values through the deployment of our four central programs, and a  plethora of events throughout the year focused on fostering community and connection. The first of these programs is the Call For Kindness, where applicants aged 13-22 submit either new or existing social impact projects, with a chance to receive a startup grant of up to $3,000 and participate in a 12-month leadership development fellowship. Fellows receive 1:1 coaching and project support, networking opportunities, a peer network consisting of 300+ other Fellows, and the opportunity to apply for a continuation grant, granting an opportunity to continue advancing and developing your organization. 

The next program is the Riley’s Way Council network, where NYC private and public high schools come together to make a meaningful difference through social impact projects and grow together in a shared community as friends and kind leaders. 

Riley’s Way Chapters, like the one here at Browning, are student-led groups of young changemakers creating opportunities to practice and model leading with empathy and kindness, making a difference on a social justice issue that matters to them. Chapters receive the guidance of a school faculty member and support from Riley’s Way staff, along with the opportunity to connect with other Chapters. 

Lastly, there’s the Youth Leadership Retreat, which occurs annually in the fall and seeks to bring young leaders from across the country  to build meaningful connections with like-minded changemakers. The Retreat is entirely free, as Room and Board are provided and all transportation expenses are covered by the Riley’s Way Foundation. 

The events seek to benefit and bring together local communities, placing an emphasis on fun, fundraising, and providing information value. Past events have included Family picnics, Virtual Poker tournaments, Policy roundtables featuring U.S. representatives, Council retreats, and visits to Elementary schools.

This is the 5th Riley’s Way Youth leadership retreat, dating back to 2018 with its inception. In addition, 2023 marked the first gender-free year for the retreat, as opposed to years past solely geared at leadership among young women. All are welcomed and common divides are broken down, with connection at the heart of its ethos, bolstering inclusivity for all.

Riley’s Way bestows the skills needed to become a leader through different stages of life as our members and fellows transition to adulthood. We envision Riley’s Way alumni becoming future leaders in the fields of Business, STEM, education, and the arts, and continuing to advance the scale of their nonprofit organizations, continuously strengthening and empowering their communities. Networking and using kindness & empathy to drive change in a leadership context appear as common topics throughout the retreat, featuring in workshops and group discussions.

Attendees of the retreat participate in camp-like activities, led through the weekend by an assigned “Teen Mentor”.Teen mentors served as camp counselors of sorts, being members of the Riley’s Way community in college or older than 18 who wanted to continue their involvement in the Retreat. Mentors led their campers in icebreaker activities and built bonds, building the friendships that the Retreat would come to stand upon. There is practically no prerequisite for application, with the only requirement being a passion for being a change-maker, and a desire to connect with other kind leaders across the nation.

Upon Arrival either at Newark Airport or The Nightingale-Bamford School, attendees were brought by bus to Tyler Hill, where they were welcomed and sorted into bunks, each of which had a resident teen mentor.  Campers spent some time meeting their bunkmates before dinner, which was followed by the first activity of the weekend, Vision boarding. The rest of Friday evening was spent playing games and participating in activities based on identity before everyone returned to their bunks for the night.

As the sun reared its head through the clouds, campers headed to breakfast, and later headed to the social hall, where a panel on the topic of identity was held(seen pictured at top of article). The panel ran for about an hour, after which there was a brief break and then campers headed to their first workshops of the weekend, mentor & staff-led interactive seminars on 5 differing topics; Identity and Public Speaking, Inclusion, Storytelling and Journalism, and Networking. Campers participated in 2 of the workshops, learning from experts in each dimension of knowledge and deepening their understanding of the given topic. The night closed out with Dinner, where my little sister, Ruby, gave a speech that was clearly much to the amusement of the audience, and Ian Sandler, the Co-Founder of Riley’s Way, held a Q&A with the attendees. A Firepit burned into the night, as the last full day of the retreat was celebrated with Smores and a generally jovial mood for all.

Though a sense of solemnity hung in the air, campers were able to revel in and reflect on the bonds and fun they experienced over the weekend before the conclusion of the Retreat. Over breakfast, all attendees wrote a reflection on the weekend, highlighting their favorite activities and the lessons they had taken away from them, ending with a high note. Marching down the camp’s path to the lakeside Gazebo, a reflection circle was formed. Everyone described the weekend using one word, and some closing words were delivered. Campers boarded the buses once again, envisioning their return a year later.

“The Retreat had some incredibly informative workshops where we learned some of the important skills of being a positive leader, namely encouraging others to take control of their own initiatives,” Francisco I. ‘27 said. “Throughout the retreat we were encouraged to seek out connections with others and develop friendships with them.”

If you’re interested in attending the 2024 retreat, be sure to visit rileysway.org for further information, and look out for the opportunity to apply beginning in early September 2024.