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Young leaders across the Church are exploring identity, justice, faith, belonging, and community through research, stories, art, and experience.

Young leaders across the United Church are exploring identity, justice, faith, belonging, and community through research, storytelling, art, and lived experience. Invite them into your congregation and be inspired by their vision for the church and the world.

How Did We Get Here?

The Black Young Scholars program was created in 2021 as part of the United Church's commitment to the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024) and the Second Decade (2025–2034). Six young people of African descent researched different aspects of the Black experience in both Canada and the United Church. In 2023, the program was extended to Indigenous and racialized youth. Renamed the Indigenous-Racialized Young Scholars (IRYS), the program has nine Indigenous and ten racialized participants each year.

Since 2022, the Indigenous-Racialized Youth Retreat has been held at Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Beausejour, Manitoba. These annual retreats foster a safe environment in which youth can share and listen about their identities, cultures, and spirituality while decentering colonial narratives. The retreat is organized and led by a leadership team comprised of participants. Youth in the IRYS program are invited to the Youth Retreat, and some of these scholars have become Youth Leaders themselves.

Indigenous-racialized youth are scholars, leaders, and change-makers. These programs allow them to fully express this within the United Church and in their everyday lives.

Art from scholars
Left: Eli Dunlap's painting was created for their research on water justice and youth suicide as an Indigenous reality. Right: Kupa Munikwa's research focused on the Black clergy within the United Church of Canada

Why This Program Matters

The church is continually called to listen, learn, and grow.

The Indigenous and Racialized Young Scholars Program helps the wider church hear directly from young people whose perspectives are helping shape a more just, equitable, and inclusive future.

Through their projects, scholars:

  • Explore contemporary experiences of racism and exclusion
  • Share Indigenous and racialized perspectives within the church
  • Celebrate culture, identity, and resilience
  • Challenge congregations to engage difficult conversations
  • Inspire communities to live more deeply into their commitments to justice and reconciliation

For more information about our young scholars program and to schedule a webinar or event, please reach out to Emo Yango and Inzwi Munikwa at  iryouth@united-church.ca