2025 EMPIRE PROMISE YOUTH SUMMIT

The 21st Annual Empire Promise Youth Summit

Survivor: Inside Out

On April 22nd Binghamton welcomed students from across New York State to the 2025 Empire Promise Youth Summit. This year's theme, "Survivor: Inside Out," inspired by the Pixar movie, created an unforgettable experience focused on emotional intelligence and personal growth.

A Journey Through Emotions

Students embarked on a three-day adventure exploring the five core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger—through tribal challenges designed to build emotional awareness and resilience. The excitement was palpable as tribes rotated through each emotion-themed activity:

• Joy's Playground
  Students discovered the transformative power of laughter yoga, experiencing how joy strengthens connections and builds resilience.
• Sadness Obstacle Course
  Participants navigated physical challenges symbolizing emotional burdens, learning to process difficult feelings in healthy ways.
• Fear's Fortress
  Teams faced their anxieties through trust-building exercises that fostered communication and courage.
• Disgust's Dump
  A community clean-up mission with hidden advantages taught students about values and environmental stewardship.
• Anger's Family Feud
  An energetic game-based competition helped students transform anger into constructive action.

Highlights from the Summit

The summit kicked off with a screening of "Inside Out" and an exciting opening dinner, setting the stage for three days of growth and camaraderie. Students participated in morning yoga, a Binghamton University scavenger hunt, and nightly entertainment including an open mic night and dance party.

Keynote speaker Melinda E. Ramírez captivated the audience with her presentation "Move to Your Own Beat: Mastering Emotions and Rising Above Challenges." Drawing from her personal journey and professional expertise, she shared the Activate, Rise and Thrive framework, comparing emotions to dance moves that students can master with practice and support.

Final Tribal Council

The summit culminated in the highly anticipated Final Tribal Council, where tribes showcased their emotional mastery journey. Students reflected on their growth and teamwork as they presented what they learned about each core emotion. While one tribe was crowned the Survivor: Inside Out champion, every participant emerged a winner in emotional intelligence.

Impact and Community

Perhaps the most telling sign of the summit's success was that students didn't want to leave! The combination of meaningful learning, supportive community, and genuine fun created a magical experience that will have lasting impact in students' schools and communities.

Continue your journey with the 2024 Empire Promise Youth Summit, Survivor Jungle: Lessons in Leadership