A major goal of many community organizations in Washtenaw County has been increasing youth participation in leadership activities in an effort to encourage the students to return to the Ann Arbor Area to work after college graduation. In early 2005, several community organizations with this shared goal collaborated to develop a pilot program called Youth Leadership Ann Arbor (YLAA).
The ann arbor area chamber of commerce, the Washtenaw County Workforce Development Board and Ann Arbor Public Schools formed a unique partnership to educate and develop leadership skills in high school students. Trenda Rusher, Executive Director of the Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services Group describes the program as a “special partnership between the ann arbor chamber, the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Washtenaw County Workforce Development Board.” Ms. Rusher further stated that YLAA “is a model for other communities in the nation to demonstrate how to grow tomorrow's talent and passionate leaders.”
About YLAA
YLAA is based on the ann arbor area chamber of commerce program, Leadership Ann Arbor. For the past 22 years, Leadership Ann Arbor has been the premier community leadership training series which educates and motivates existing and potential community leaders in corporations, non-profits, government, educational institutions and community foundations.
The pilot Youth Leadership program connects students from the Ann Arbor Public Schools with local community and business leaders, encouraging them to learn more about the diversity and opportunities available in the Ann Arbor area. The program is formatted to enable six high school juniors the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, gain a broader perspective of the issues in their city and take an active role in improving their community. The mission of Youth Leadership Ann Arbor is to cultivate effective and responsible citizenship, provide networking opportunities, enhance interpersonal skills and gather insight into career development.
Youth Leadership Ann Arbor is about encouraging and promoting leadership and participation. “It’s great to get input from the high school student’s perspective,” said Chris Nielsen, Corporate Development Manager at Atwell-Hicks, “Their ideas add value and depth to the overall group discussions. Having [the students] included in the Leadership Ann Arbor class benefits the whole group as well as the community members that we meet.” Class participants learn from a wide variety of speakers who are experts in their fields, as well as take tours of a wide variety of community, government, business and non-profit organizations. Topics of learning and discussion focus on important issues relevant to the Ann Arbor Area. The program is not just learning by listening to experts, students receive first-hand experience by interacting with local leaders. “I have found the students to be very mature, involved and intelligent. They have asked smart questions, and understand what is going on more than I ever did at their age. It has been refreshing to have them as part of the group,” John Sepp, Financial Advisor, Linsco Private Ledger Financial Services.
This program provides an invaluable experience to its participants and the community. “Impressive,” said Denene Smith, Assistant Vice President of Comerica Bank, “What a great example of our future leaders!”
For more information about the Leadership program, please contact Lindsay McCarthy , director of marketing and programs, at 734.214.0109.
