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Healthy Changes Everything Youth Summit

On October 6, 2011 Leadership Buffalo and BlueCross BlueShield of WNY teamed up to create the first ever Healthy Changes Everything Youth Summit. Area teens, from 10 different High schools, gathered at the First Niagara Center. The summit focused on many key components of an average teen's life.

The response was fantastic. Here is some of the press

YOUTH LEADERSHIP ERIE COUNTY

Community Service Verification Form

Youth Leadership Erie County is a nine month leadership enrichment program. As the future leaders of our community, high school sophomores and juniors across the county are invited to participate. The curriculum builds:

• an understanding of leadership and foundation of leadership skills development

• an understanding of and comfort with working successfully as part of a team

• positive conflict resolution skills

• an awareness of community issues

• an appreciation for diversity

• a commitment to lifelong involvement in community service

The program assembles a diverse group of students who have leadership potential, but who may or may not have had experience in positions of leadership at their schools or in their volunteer work in the community.

THE CLASS PROGRAM

Youth Leadership Erie County begins with an opening retreat held at Cradle Beach camp in August. Facilitators use group activities designed to promote dialogue on leadership, self-esteem, and future goals. The orientation retreat creates a team atmosphere. Each year graduates of YLEC assist with the overall design and facilitation of the retreat. Attendance at the opening retreat is required for participation in Youth Leadership Erie County.

Monthly day sessions are half days scheduled from 12:00 noon - 5:30 p.m. and are held in various locations throughout the community. Youth leadership students learn more about pressing issues in our community, meet community leaders and experience our region from an experiential perspective. Topics include community history and culture, human services, economic development, criminal justice, education and leadership. The program ends in May with a full day session and a special evening graduation celebration.

Students will take on service learning projects as part of the year-long program. Youth Leaders will work with a Leadership Buffalo adult advisor to identify and implement a project for the community. Youth Leaders will be expected to commit 15 to 20 hours of their time outside of the program to implement their project.

REQUIREMENTS

Attendance is required at the Opening Retreat, at all nine sessions and the community service activities. Only one excused absence will be allowed. Transportation to and from each session is the responsibility of the student. Transportation within each session will be provided. Agendas and other information will be mailed to the student and his/her school prior to each session.

APPLICATION:

Annually, applications are available to current freshman and sophomores in the spring for the subsequent school year. Approximately forty-five students from throughout Erie County will be selected for the program. Applications are considered for the final selection by a team of Leadership Buffalo graduates. After selection, all applicants will receive notification of their status before the completion of the school year. Because the Youth Leadership Class strives to reflect the diversity of the students of Erie County, we regret that all qualified candidates may not be accepted into the program.

PROGRAM COST

The program tuition is $600. The total program cost per student is $1900. Thanks to corporate sponsorships, grant funding and other donations, we are able to significantly decrease the cost of the program to individuals. A limited number of partial need-based scholarships will be available to help defray the cost of the program

For more information, please contact:

Kristen Morris

Program and Marketing Coordinator

Ph: 716.849.2626 ext 17