We Were Told to Dream — Then Left Behind | Gabby Wright | TEDxBrayford Pool

Key Concepts:

• Anger as a catalyst for change
• Intergenerational social contract
• Systemic barriers faced by young people
• Disconnect between education and employment
• Empowering young voices
• Short-term vs. long-term thinking
• Pity vs. Action

1. The Speaker's Perspective and Context:

• The speaker identifies as a millennial/Gen Z cusper.
• Experienced the peak of the recession in 2012 and witnessed the impact of austerity measures.
• Worked various jobs before finding purpose in helping young people.
• Currently works for a network supporting around 200 young people annually, focusing on person-centered support.

2. Systemic Barriers and Lack of Opportunity:

• Despite the talent and potential of the young people she supports (e.g., skilled artists, self-taught coders), they face significant systemic barriers.
• The speaker expresses frustration at the lack of job opportunities available to these young people, making them feel "gaslighty."
• Argues that the "ladder" of opportunity has been diminished for younger generations due to short-sighted decisions.
• "Isn't that because the ladder that the previous generations have climbed the rungs have been pulled away?"

3. Education-Employment Disconnect:

• Criticizes the disconnect between the skills taught in schools and the skills demanded by employers.
• Young people are doing what they've been told, going to university, building skills, but then are told they don't have the skills to work in those jobs.
• Highlights that the current generation is the most educated but is projected to be worse off than previous generations.

4. Intergenerational Social Contract:

• Introduces the concept of the "intergenerational social contract," which is the idea that we give what we hope to receive when we're older and we give back down the line what we received when we were younger.
• Argues that this contract has broken down and needs to be rebuilt.
• Emphasizes the importance of empowering young people to rebuild this contract.

5. Raising Young Voices Initiative:

• Highlights a positive initiative called "Raising Young Voices" in Lincoln, where young people are given opportunities to express their ideas and enter spaces where their voices can be heard.
• This initiative is a partnership with other charities.
• Expresses optimism about the potential for this model to be replicated elsewhere.

6. The Problem with Pity and the Call to Action:

• Criticizes the emotion of pity from older generations, stating that "pity is a paralytic" and accepts things as they are.
• Urges the audience to get angry about the situation, as anger can be a catalyst for change.
• "I want you all to get as angry as I am because anger is there to tell us something is wrong something needs to be different and we need to do something to change that."
• Calls on everyone to consider the future and how their decisions are making it better for young people.
• Asks everyone to ask themselves "who is all this future for and how are we making it better?"

7. Conclusion:

• The speaker advocates for a shift from short-term thinking to long-term planning that prioritizes the needs and opportunities of young people.
• The main takeaway is that anger, when channeled constructively, can be a powerful motivator for creating positive change and rebuilding the intergenerational social contract.