Political Science

Executive Summary:
In August 2013, Invisible Children hosted the second Fourth Estate Summit, designed for milennials and educators to share stories, inspiration and information about important social issues. The Summit was held on the campus of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and featured keynote addresses by distinguished leaders from the business, government, and non-profit sectors, a series of smaller breakout sessions, evening entertainment and a Common Good Exchange which brought together over 60 organizations and brands devoted to social change. The Summit also included an “Educator Track” that included three sessions designed specifically for educators, as well as pre- and post- summit communication and materials with participants,
focused on supporting fundraising efforts for the Fall 2013 #ZeroLRA campaign.

The overarching goals of the Summit were to recruit 200 educators and 1000 millennials to attend, teach them
about the IC cause as well as social justice more broadly, and deploy them to raise funds for IC’s #ZeroLRA campaign. Through this, they aimed to lead millenials to become more aware of and involved in global societal issues and to make a difference in their communities and the world.

A total of 1193 millennials and 119 educators attended the Summit. Impacts on millennial participants included increases in awareness, knowledge, and interest in issues related to Invisible Children specifically and social justice more broadly. Participants also reported increased social capital in the form of new relationships, enhanced social capacity, and identity formation. The three most prominent youth outcomes included:

1. Confidence: By in large, the biggest impact on Millennial participants was a boost in confidence. Participants felt validated that they are important and that their story is important. Jason’s message that “Your life is bigger than your best dream” resonated strongly and they were empowered by the stories shared by speakers who overcame personal and professional obstacles to do great things for others. The message that “you can do something extraordinary with your life” also resonated and provided a sense of self-efficacy. One person can make a difference and Fourth Estate fortified their passion for social change and the part that they can and will play in this fight.

2. Commitment: Many reported a renewed commitment to IC. Some commented that the Summit changed their worldview. Accompanying this change in worldview is a responsibility to do their part in the war against social injustice. Many commented that they feel motivated to find their mission, find their life
pursuits and go after them with passion and conviction. With the new information about the LRA and other social justice issues, many commented that they are considering or have been inspired to revise their career paths based on the calling to blend personal passion and social justice. Many also shared a strong sense of hope and belief in a better future, with more opportunities to make change happen, and a reinforced belief that change will happen.

3. Connection: Many commented that one of the most rewarding aspects of Fourth Estate was the sense of community that they felt. Participants formed new relationships, rekindled old ones, and quite a few mentioned that they finally feel like they are not alone in their interests, values, and passions. The organizations featured at CGE also increased the size of the Fourth Estate community. Their minds have been opened and they see themselves as a part of a larger global community. In addition, since many of the summit’s messages were aimed at activating their passion for social justice and social change, many Millenials now see themselves as change-makers. A few responded that they now have the courage to be who they are and are not afraid of deviating from the social norms.

We also found evidence that these outcomes can be funneled back into Invisible Children. Armed with new knowledge, many Millennial participants reported feeling an increased capacity and increased confidence in their
ability to become better advocates for IC. As a result of the summit, Millennials also reported being more socially confident in their ability to talk to strangers, to form new relationships, and to fundraise. This is also evidenced in the fact that Summit participants raised just over $400,000 and also reported contacting additional partner organizations they met during the Summit.