Empowering Young Leaders on 1,200 Campuses
“Young people have a strong spirit and passion, and I think CARP’s responsibility is to help them channel this,” said Mitsuyoshi Orikasa, a young Unificationist from the CARP DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) chapter. “Our leaders believe in the power of young people and the impact that they can make in society.”
Orikasa joined new and familiar faces for the annual Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) retreat at Camp Tejas Trails in Blanco, Texas, where young leaders came together for the Momentum 2021 program. The workshop, from August 10 to 12, was the first in-person meeting for the group since the pandemic began last year and closely followed local Covid guidelines.
“I felt overwhelmed to see such bright faces of our young people,” said Dr. Chung Sik Yong, a featured speaker and the regional president of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) North America. “It was the most exciting moment to see all of these young people who made me feel so inspired.”
Dr. Yong stopped by the retreat during his national tour and shared some guidance while encouraging CARP leaders to establish a chapter in every state by summer 2022. Dr. Yong was among several FFWPU USA leaders to address CARP’s next steps and goals, as an ambitious vision plan through 2027 was outlined by national CARP President Jinil Fleischman.
Fleischman said the student-led campus organization aims to create 1,200 CARP chapters and establish 30,000 CARP members in North America over the next six years. The impressive plan is already underway, with the new chapter Colorado CARP launched in July for young adults, and re-launching chapters in Seattle, Hawaii, and Bridgeport, Conn.
“We’ve welcomed our first Colorado CARP pioneer, Linako Shimizu,” announced co-pastors Michael and Adonia Hentrich of Colorado Family Church in Denver. “We feel so excited about the potential of this chapter to nurture our young people, who are the future.”
CARP was established in 1966 by FFWPU co-founders Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and her late husband, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon. Together they envisioned an organization for students by students that creates programs, events, and activities promoting principles for peace and growth while raising up young leaders. Today, CARP’s chapters nationwide and international presence have developed a range of educational programs and service projects that foster unity among people.
The retreat’s 70 participants—representing chapters in 13 states across the US from New Jersey to California and Hawaii—-discussed highlights from the past school year, resources and curriculum, as well as starting, running, and expanding campus chapters. CARP leaders also got better acquainted with one another through various group and one-on-one activities, and collaborated with partner organizations Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) USA and the Young Clergy Leadership Conference (YCLC).
“Going into this workshop, my intentions were to learn from other chapters and implement those strategies at CARP DMV,” said Orikasa. “This retreat helped me let go of any doubts I had and feel determined to invest more this year.”
You can learn more about CARP USA here.
