Youth Leadership Initiative

Developing a new generation of strong, effective leaders

Wilder's Youth Leadership Initiative is a community leadership program for high school students to strengthen self-awareness, develop cross-cultural leadership skills, and to put skills learned into action in a multicultural and global community.

Contact

Email: YLI@wilder.org

Phone: 651-280-2457

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Program Overview

The Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) is a cohort model of learning. Young people apply and are selected to be in a learning cohort that meets consistently over a period of time. In YLI, learning happens through active engagement, listening and doing, reflection, a mixture of small and large group activities, storytelling and peer mentoring. The structure of YLI is youth centered. In addition to youth participants determining the focus of cultural exploration sessions and community issues to be addressed, a team of youth mentors are selected to return and be peer leaders in the program. The roles of adults are to support, encourage, share knowledge and power, and create access and opportunity. Youth and adults work together as colleagues and learn from one another.

Program Length, Format and Key Dates

8 months (November 6, 2019 – May 21, 2020)

Youth/Parent Orientation: Monday, October 28, 2019 or Wednesday, October 30, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Weekly After-School Sessions: Every Wednesday 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Wilder Center starting November 6, 2019.
Weekend Youth Leadership Retreat: Saturday, November 9, 2019 - Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Camp Voyageur
Graduation: Thursday, May 21, 2020

Program Activities That Help Youth Build Leadership Skills

Leadership Retreats

At three retreats, youth participate in experiential learning activities that help them to understand who they are as individuals and how to work with others.

Youth Action Projects

Youth identify community issues they are passionate about and create service projects that address those issues.

Cultural Exploration Sessions

Youth explore their own culture and how heritage impacts leadership style and personal development. Youth also develop cross-cultural understanding by sharing and learning about other people’s experiences.

Academic and Job-Readiness Support

Youth explore and develop skills that will help them navigate professionalism, college readiness, career and life after high school. YLI also offers academic tutoring.

Participant Requirements

YLI is grounded in the belief that all young people have the potential to benefit our community with their skills, talents and unique perspectives. We do not screen only for those youth who are “in trouble” or those who are “above average.” As a result, we bring together a truly diverse cohort of youth. They are diverse in their interests, ethnic backgrounds, family structures, country of birth, “crowd” at school, grade point average and so much more. These youth spend a year together building solid trusting relationships. For many, it changes their life. Participants must:

Be in grades 9-12
Live in Saint Paul or the East Metro area
Reflect diversity of the community
Commit to attending program sessions for one school year

It was a really big transformation. I improved my speaking skills and critical thinking skills.
Because of YLI, I can be more myself.

Eh Tha Blay Soe, YLI alumna & youth mentor

The Youth Leadership Initiative helps youth discover their leadership abilities.

A group activity with Wilder's Youth Leadership Initiative

Visit

Youth, parents, educators, and community members looking for more information about the Youth Leadership Initiative program, can visit us at the Wilder Center (451 Lexington Parkway N., Saint Paul, MN 55104), call us 651-280-2366 or email yli@wilder.org.

Apply

No longer accepting applications for the 2019-2020 school year!

Program runs November 2019 - May 2020 at the Wilder Center.
Questions? Contact Coulette Columbus-Powers at yli@wilder.org or call 651-280-2366.

Volunteer

Interested in volunteering? We're always looking for volunteers to serve as mentors, coaches, drivers and more - see if there's an opportunity to work with youth.

Find a Volunteer Opportunity

Caitlin Bordeaux

Program Development Associate, Youth Leadership Initiative

Coulette Columbus-Powers

Administrative Specialist, Community Leadership Programs

Tené Morgan

Program Associate, Youth Leadership Initiative

Haley Vien

Macalester College Bonner Scholar

Nou Yang

Senior Director, Community Leadership Programs

High School Students from Saint Paul and East Metro Area in Wilder's Youth Leadership Initiative gather for a retreat at the Wilder Center.

5 Skills Youth Leadership Initiative Alumni Bring Into Work and Life After High School

By guest author and changemaker, Padah Vang, YLI Alumna (2013 – 2015) and Youth Mentor (summer 2018 internship) with Wilder’s Youth Leadership In... Read the article »

Community Leadership Programs, Youth Leadership Initiative, global youth leaders in minnesota, diverse multicultural youth and adults

Why Multiculturalism Matters for Local and Global Youth Leadership

How can multiculturalism empower people of many races, ethnicities and cultures to live and work in harmony not only in the US but also around the world? ... Read the article »

Youth Mentors: A Model of Peer Leadership

Read the report »

Youth Leadership Initiative: 2018-19 Outcome Report

Read the report »

Youth Leadership Initiative: 2015-16 Program Evaluation, Summary

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Youth Leadership Initiative Evaluation Results: 2015 Impact Study

Read the report »

Youth Leadership Initiative alumna Theng Yeng Xiong speaks at 2018 Hmong Professionals Dinner at Wilder

The Youth Leadership Initiative Empowered Me to Believe that My Voice Matters and I Can Make a Difference

Hello everyone, I am Theng Yeng Xiong, an alumna of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Youth Leadership initiative. The Youth Leadership Initiative is a multicultural leadership program that develops and equips young people to be leaders i...More about this story »

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The YLI Institute, rooted in our youth leadership program's best practices, can partner with you and your organization to make sure young people have opportunities to lead and contribute to their communities. We offer customized trainings and workshops, consultation and technical support, and convening that fosters learning and inspires action. Email YLI@wilder.org for more information.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a special legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Youth Leadership Initiative

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About the Youth Leadership Initiative