Youth Leadership
Youth Leadership (YL) is a leadership enrichment program tailored for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from various schools across our community. Our curriculum is designed to establish a solid foundation of leadership skills, cultivate awareness of community issues, foster appreciation for diversity, and instill a lifelong commitment to community service.
Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort are now open!
The application deadline is October 4, 2024.
Please see application details below.
2023-2024 Day Session Schedule
- Getting to know you and your fellow Youth Leadership class
- What makes a leader and how you can activate your community
- Combining networking and social capitol - connect people, opportunities and ideas
- Give back to your community with the Youth Leadership class
- Social Media for Young Leaders
- Discover the arts, culture, tourism and history of Buffalo
- Explore how criminal and social justice work symbiotically
- Education after high-school - trades, military, college and more
- Resumes, interviews and elevator speeches
- A time to dress up and celebrate your hard work this year
Exploring What Matters
Students meet once a month to explore Buffalo in an educational way to increase appreciation and awareness of our community.
We focus on topics such as economic development, social justice, arts and cultures, diversity and entrepreneurship.
Developing Leaders
YL targets a diverse group of students who have leadership potential but who may or may not have had experience in positions of leadership within their schools.
Public, private and charter schools are represented by a group of 40 students each year. This program values diversity and aspires to include as many different high schools as possible.
Being a Better Leader
The program environment is a non-traditional form of learning. The city is our "classroom".
Throughout the year, we perform leadership development trainings in various topics including, team building, diversity, business ethics and social etiquette. The year focuses on Servant Leadership traits and relies on experiential learning.
Giving Back
Students are exposed to the multiple service based organizations in our area. Throughout the year, students will learn about ways they can provide assistance in our community, and take action to create a better Buffalo.
Program Information
Application
All applicants must fulfill the following requirements to be considered for the program:
- Complete the online application
- Submit two letters of reference
- Provide completed principal verification form
Submit your complete application by September 12 to be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Opening Retreat
Youth Leadership commences with an Opening Retreat scheduled for October. This retreat serves as the cornerstone of the program, establishing its fundamental principles. Designed to foster a sense of teamwork among participants, the retreat is mandatory for all attendees.
Day Sessions
Students will convene monthly for half-day, in-person sessions. These gatherings aim to familiarize participants with a range of community issues and foster their leadership development. Each session will feature engagement with community leaders relevant to the day's topic, enabling students to engage in meaningful discussions and offer ideas on addressing these issues.
View the 2024-2025 Schedule Here
Tuition
The program tuition is $750. Thanks to our sponsors, we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships. To apply for financial assistance, please complete the separate financial assistance application in addition to the regular program application. Please note that these requests are confidential and will not be considered during the selection process.
