The Scottish North American Community Conference (SNACC) in December 2024 brought together some young leaders of Scottish heritage societies who shared their observations on how to attract younger people. Participants included Brendan Fyfe and Victoria Stewart of the St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto; Rory Hedderly of the Saltire Foundation; and Iona Fyfe and Cameron Steer of the American Scottish Foundation. Brian Smith, of the University of Strathclyde Board of Trustees USA, offered advice about engaging Scottish university alumni. Here is a brief summary of their remarks:
Mr. Fyfe said the Society has changed both its event schedule and its communications, sch as finding social media influencers and content generators.
Ms. Stewart observed that younger people are more focused on searching for jobs and finding a reasonable place to live. The society started creating in-person events such as pub nights, curling socials, and other more casual get-togethers.
Mr. Hedderley advised that the key is “to listen to what they want and then get really creative about giving them what they want.”
Mr. Steer agreed that societies needed to connect younger people over things that are important to them: “the whiskey, the culture, the food, the music, the sports.”
Mr. Smith suggested offering political or economic panel discussions, produced by the Scottish universities themselves.
If you are Delegate or Alternate of a COSCA Organizational Member, you can access the complete article with many more details: https://www.cosca.scot/snacc-2024-youth
The Scottish North American Community Conference (SNACC) is an annual event organized by the American-Scottish Foundation, The Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, St Andrew's Society of Detroit, Chicago Scots, Scottish American Women’s Society of Washington DC, Scottish Studies Society, and St. Andrew's Society of Toronto
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