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WATERVLIET, MI--"This week I have not only worked to improve the insight on ideas for my community but I have improved myself spiritually and mentally," wrote Crystal Lee from Hope Street Youth Development in Wichita, Kansas after the NTIC Teen Leaders of Tomorrow retreat. Fourteen NPA-affiliated groups sent youth leaders to Camp Ronora in Watervliet, Michigan in mid August for three days of strategy meetings, team-building exercises and networking.

A key piece of the weekend was a planning session for an ongoing campaign to create a new federal scholarship. The scholarship would allow students with less than perfect academic records to attend the college of their choice -- if they work to improve their neighborhoods. "It's for kids from poor neighborhoods who work with their community groups," said Pepe Bravo, 13, from Brighton Park Neighborhood Council in Chicago. "Most people are not that smart. I'm a B student myself," said Bravo. The NPA youth pushed the bill in the House last year and this year they plan to push it in the Senate.

The youth also shared their experiences fighting gangs, chemical companies, city aldermen and the odds against graduating and getting jobs. They participated in workshops on crime and drugs, education, job creation, environmental justice and recreation, as well as power and trust-building exercises.

"I thought that this experience was awesome," said Craig Yennie from HART in Hartford, Connecticut. "I met a lot of new and cool people who were nothing like me! It also gave me a lot of good ideas on how to go about becoming a better leader."

There was also time for big dreams of the future. The youth brainstormed about forming a national youth network, affiliated with NPA but with its own leadership, agenda and organization. They also created designs for a youth T-shirt, buttons and banner for the 30th annual National People's Action conference.

It wasn't all work. Swimming, volleyball, basketball, tennis and a talent show rounded out the activities. The kids enjoyed camping rituals like ghost stories and s'mores around the campfire and games in the dining hall. While some staff members wondered if there was too much playtime, the young people thought that building relationships was the key part of the experience. Many said that they would keep in touch and looked forward to seeing each other again … at NPA in March, 2001.

"Ronora was great," said Bravo. "It was the camp of dreams."