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LEADERSHIP YOUTH
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN YOUTH & COMMUNITY

View the 2007-09 Leadership Youth Schedule

Leadership Youth community boards

Instilling hope, inspiring vision, and opening doors of opportunity and commitment—that is the essence of Leadership Youth. With gang activity and the disturbing trend of increased disconnection of our youth from nuclear family relationships, community leaders and leadership organizations must step forward to act now. We must build bridges between our youth and their community.

Leadership Youth is designed to achieve progress toward that goal. Twenty-five youth from Salem-Keizer area high schools, participate in a program that recognizes their leadership potential and expects them to commit to a positive leadership role within their schools and their community.

These youth can make a positive difference in our community if we first make a positive step towards them.

Leadership Youth Mission
To cultivate and nurture the hidden leadership qualities that exist in all youth within the Salem-Keizer communities.

Program Description
Patterned after Leadership Salem, in the first year youth will receive a comprehensive overview of the Salem-Keizer area—its realities, opportunities and challenges; meet face to face with recognized community leaders and decision makers; and receive an introduction to community resources by way of tours, panels and speakers. Each of the nine one-day sessions focuses on a different theme: leadership; community history and culture; natural resources; business and commerce; education; human resources; legal systems; government; and a community project.

During the second year, youth serve on a community board while being paired with a community mentor from that board. The formal mentor relationship helps the student become accustomed to the rules, norms and expectations of a community leader. As a result, the student will gain insight to community issues, needs and challenges.

The knowledge and experience that youth gain will impact their lives and enable them to grow and become involved in helping to shape a positive future for the Salem-Keizer area.

Leadership Youth Chair:
Deb Wilding, West Coast Bank

To learn about sponsorship opportunities or information about Leadership Youth, please contact Kathy Moore, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at 503-581-1466, ext 316 or email kathy@salemchamber.org.