From the Editor – Coming of Age

Dear Readers,

We are excited to bring you the Summer 2025 issue of Lilipoh, with the theme “Coming of Age.” In this issue, you will find both articles about supporting children and young adults on their journeys, as well as poems, essays, and art by young artists and writers, sharing their perceptions, experiences, observations, and dreams.

In this issue, there is a rich diversity of activities and ages represented, but what they all have in common is the understanding that supporting young people cannot be siloed into solely educational, emotional, physical, artistic or spiritual endeavors. They are most effective when they acknowledge and embrace the whole person. Raising healthy and resilient children starts at a very young age, with a great deal of parental and caregiver self-observation and reflection. Literacy supports the development of both cognitive ability and self-esteem. Truly educational programs serve the whole child, and not just academic learning. Relationships with animals throughout childhood and adolescence enrich every aspect of a young person’s development. The activities of the North American Youth Section are particularly inspiring in their scope and creativity.

As part of her podcast, “On Being,” Krista Tippet shared a November 2024 conversation she had with children’s/young adult author Jason Reynolds and Georgetown University student Kessley Janvier,  entitled “On Being Young in America.” This conversation touched on many topics, but those that most stick with me are their shared assertions of our common humanity. Jason Reynolds elaborates at length on the foundational statement, “I respect you because you are, and the reason I do is because that connects us.” Twenty-one year old Kessley Janvier was clear: “You don’t get to just look away and go on with your life. I need to sit with that. We need to sit with that as a society. We need to sit with the fact that we are all interrelated and we affect each other.”

Wise words spoken by voices from the future. We hope this issue helps you deepen your awareness and openness to the young people in your life and in the world around you.

With warmth and gratitude,

Karen Davis-Brown

(she/her)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jason-reynolds-and-kessley-janvier-on-being-young-in/id150892556?i=1000706865611