SYRF Regional Training Institute San Francisco Millennials 101 Who they are and why it matters Neil Spears February 9, 2008

Who are we? Visit all seven posters Be anonymous Be honest

Visit all seven posters

Be anonymous

Be honest

Purpose Zoomed-out view of a generation. Get to know Millennials’ seven core traits. Plan and organize strategically for RJ. Gain transferable skills.

Zoomed-out view of a generation.

Get to know Millennials’ seven core traits.

Plan and organize strategically for RJ.

Gain transferable skills.

WARNING* *Generalizations ahead

*Generalizations ahead

Millennials Born between 1982 and 2002 More affluent, better educated, and more ethnically diverse than any generation in recent memory Hypercommunicators: Constantly in touch via cell phones, PDAs, internet, email, IM Multi-taskers: Can watch TV, talk on the phone, surf the net and IM all at the same time Source: “Digital Kids: Who They Are, How They Learn” http://www.apple.com/education/digitalkids/

Born between 1982 and 2002

More affluent, better educated, and more ethnically diverse than any generation in recent memory

Hypercommunicators: Constantly in touch via cell phones, PDAs, internet, email, IM

Multi-taskers: Can watch TV, talk on the phone, surf the net and IM all at the same time

Generational Gap Baby Boomers Gen X Millennials 1982 2002

Generational Gap Baby Boomers Gen X Millennials

Generational Gap Baby Boomers Gen X Millennials

Generational Gap In their lifetime, AIDS has always existed. President Kennedy’s assassination is as significant to them as that of Lincoln or Garfield. Yugoslavia has never existed. They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is. Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents. Barbie has always had a job. Computers have always fit in their backpacks. Source: Beloit College “Mindset List,” Classes of 2002-2007

In their lifetime, AIDS has always existed.

President Kennedy’s assassination is as significant to them as that of Lincoln or Garfield.

Yugoslavia has never existed.

They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is.

Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents.

Barbie has always had a job.

Computers have always fit in their backpacks.

Generational Gap

7 Core Traits Special Sheltered Confident Team-Oriented Conventional Pressured Achieving

Special

Sheltered

Confident

Team-Oriented

Conventional

Pressured

Achieving

1. Special “ A special child also wants to go to a special institution, where he or she will be prepared to play a special role.” 75% of incoming freshmen have never shared a room High expectations of the college experience and services offered “ The Team” - College choice is a co-purchase Wants to be valued as unique, but also wants to fit-in.

“ A special child also wants to go to a special institution, where he or she will be prepared to play a special role.”

75% of incoming freshmen have never shared a room

High expectations of the college experience and services offered

“ The Team” - College choice is a co-purchase

Wants to be valued as unique, but also wants to fit-in.

2. Sheltered “ From parental controls online, to ratings of video games and music, to graduated drivers licensing, to metal-detectors in schools, Millennials’ parents have sought to keep their children safe.” “ Helicopter parents” FERPA waiver Zero-tolerance – harsh punishment for rule breakers Seek Structure and Respect Authority

“ From parental controls online, to ratings of video games and music, to graduated drivers licensing, to metal-detectors in schools, Millennials’ parents have sought to keep their children safe.”

“ Helicopter parents”

FERPA waiver

Zero-tolerance – harsh punishment for rule breakers

Seek Structure and Respect Authority

3. Confident “ The logic of the new message is positive reinforcement: Tell teens about the great things that will happen if they make the right choice.” “ RAH-RAH” spirit of campus life Possibility and Opportunity Generational identity and sense of collective destiny 90% of teens are confident and happy about the future Confidence in conformity

“ The logic of the new message is positive reinforcement: Tell teens about the great things that will happen if they make the right choice.”

“ RAH-RAH” spirit of campus life

Possibility and Opportunity

Generational identity and sense of collective destiny

90% of teens are confident and happy about the future

Confidence in conformity

4. Team-Oriented “ Millennials love group work, cooperative activities like volunteer service, and participation in something larger than the individual.” Conformity is a motivator Collaboration in and out of the classroom— working in pairs or groups is key . Tend to socialize in groups

“ Millennials love group work, cooperative activities like volunteer service, and participation in something larger than the individual.”

Conformity is a motivator

Collaboration in and out of the classroom— working in pairs or groups is key .

Tend to socialize in groups

5. Conventional “ Millennials embrace their parents’ values…they respect their parents, share their views, and even like their music.” Value mainstream ideas Revere parents Fashion conformists Exhibit good behavior and strict adherence to the rules

“ Millennials embrace their parents’ values…they respect their parents, share their views, and even like their music.”

Value mainstream ideas

Revere parents

Fashion conformists

Exhibit good behavior and strict adherence to the rules

5. Conventional We are not seeing students who itch to plan rallies and sit-ins, rather students are eager to follow university rules about organizing Knowledge of college and university student organization policies Strong emphasis on partnerships with existing organizations, including University chartered groups (Student Association, Student Activities Office)

We are not seeing students who itch to plan rallies and sit-ins, rather students are eager to follow university rules about organizing

Knowledge of college and university student organization policies

Strong emphasis on partnerships with existing organizations, including University chartered groups (Student Association, Student Activities Office)

6. Pressured Top two concerns of teens: 1974 Nuclear War Stagflation 1984 AIDS Violent Crime 1999 Grades College Admissions

Top two concerns of teens:

1974

Nuclear War

Stagflation

1984

AIDS

Violent Crime

1999

Grades

College Admissions

6. Pressured “ There’s a new ‘arms race’ among today’s teens, and it’s called: ‘Getting Into College.’” Minimize risk and avoid failure Effort + Planning = Success Stressed and ambitious Challenged to balance ‘building a resume’ with ‘building a life’

“ There’s a new ‘arms race’ among today’s teens, and it’s called: ‘Getting Into College.’”

Minimize risk and avoid failure

Effort + Planning = Success

Stressed and ambitious

Challenged to balance ‘building a resume’ with ‘building a life’

6. Pressured Understanding this way of life makes young adult involvement with SYRF even more precious Resume/life balance plays directly to the opportunities SYRF offers including: Emphasis on faith or life balance Involvement with SYRF is a great resume builder!

Understanding this way of life makes young adult involvement with SYRF even more precious

Resume/life balance plays directly to the opportunities SYRF offers including:

Emphasis on faith or life balance

Involvement with SYRF is a great resume builder!

7. Achieving “ Millennials are probably the most all-around achievement-oriented teenage generation this nation, and perhaps the world, has ever seen.” Expect to be held accountable Anticipate rewards for their efforts Value more knowledge, less creativity 2002 average SAT score is highest ever

“ Millennials are probably the most all-around achievement-oriented teenage generation this nation, and perhaps the world, has ever seen.”

Expect to be held accountable

Anticipate rewards for their efforts

Value more knowledge, less creativity

2002 average SAT score is highest ever

7. Achieving The use of contracts and other written agreements could be useful Rewards and incentives for actions could include stipends, awards, and other extrinsic rewards.

The use of contracts and other written agreements could be useful

Rewards and incentives for actions could include stipends, awards, and other extrinsic rewards.

7 Core Traits Special Sheltered Confident Team-Oriented Conventional Pressured Achieving

Special

Sheltered

Confident

Team-Oriented

Conventional

Pressured

Achieving

Technology & Identity Source: Draft Brandeis Study, “Jewish Life on the American College Campus: Realities and Opportunities,” (2004), citing Sherry Turkle (1995) “ For contemporary college students, identity is multiple and distributed like a set of ‘windows’ on a computer screen, and being Jewish is just one among many self identities.” The integration of technology into daily life translates well into Millennials’ identity.

Religion Source: “OMG! How Generation Y is Redefining Faith in the iPod Era.” - 4/11/05. Possible implications for religion: Individualized world views Lack of interest in traditional religious institutions Emphasis on diversity They have a “genuine attachment to religious life,” but are “more disconnected from traditional denominations than their older counterparts … [and] favor more informal ways to practice their faith as opposed to attending services, classes, or formal activity.”

Possible implications for religion:

Individualized world views

Lack of interest in traditional religious institutions

Emphasis on diversity

They have a “genuine attachment to religious life,” but are “more disconnected from traditional denominations than their older counterparts … [and] favor more informal ways to practice their faith as opposed to attending services, classes, or formal activity.”

Religion Opportunities for SYRF: Emphasis on diversity means SYRF’s interfaith approach is especially attractive Focus on “spiritual” as opposed to “observant” or “religious” is important “ Favor more informal ways to practice their faith” This could be an involvement with SYRF activities! Discovery of faith through learning about each tradition’s views on reproductive justice

Opportunities for SYRF:

Emphasis on diversity means SYRF’s interfaith approach is especially attractive

Focus on “spiritual” as opposed to “observant” or “religious” is important

“ Favor more informal ways to practice their faith”

This could be an involvement with SYRF activities!

Discovery of faith through learning about each tradition’s views on reproductive justice

What does it all mean? Millennials “rebel” by conforming They are pressured and high achievers Looking to build their resumes Want to volunteer Favor informal and spiritual approaches to religion By leveraging Millennials’ seven core traits, YOU can reach Millennials in unprecedented ways

Millennials “rebel” by conforming

They are pressured and high achievers

Looking to build their resumes

Want to volunteer

Favor informal and spiritual approaches to religion

By leveraging Millennials’ seven core traits, YOU can reach Millennials in unprecedented ways

What does it all mean? Millennials “rebel” by conforming They are pressured and high achievers Looking to build their resumes Want to volunteer Favor informal and spiritual approaches to religion 7 Core Traits Special Sheltered Confident Team-Oriented Conventional Pressured Achieving

Millennials “rebel” by conforming

They are pressured and high achievers

Looking to build their resumes

Want to volunteer

Favor informal and spiritual approaches to religion

7 Core Traits

Special

Sheltered

Confident

Team-Oriented

Conventional

Pressured

Achieving

Thank you Neil Spears [email_address]

Neil Spears

[email_address]