Youth Leadership St. Louis

Since 1989, the Youth Leadership St. Louis (YLSL) program has been informing, connecting, preparing and empowering high WHAT TO EXPECT school students to become civic and community leaders. Youth Leadership St. Louis takes students out of the An internationally recognized program of FOCUS St. Louis, classroom and into the community to explore what YLSL brings together high school juniors from around 30 public, leadership means in our region – and help them develop private and parochial schools across the region, as well as Girl their own leadership potential. Scouts of Eastern . Curriculum Each program day immerses students into a different issue What Makes It Unique in the region, giving them the opportunity to connect and Youth Leadership St. Louis is the area’s only established inter- learn from community leaders, collaborate with their peers district high school program that is non-competitive in nature. and put their leadership skills into action. Topics include: No other program brings together such a large and diverse group • Experiencing St. Louis of students – 150 students representing 55 ZIP codes. • Exploring Health Care • Perspectives on Criminal and Juvenile Justice Upon completing the program, students report and demonstrate: • Valuing Diversity • An increase in leadership skill level and positive decision • Understanding the Effects of Discrimination making • Realizing Poverty • Greater understanding of issues affecting the St. Louis • Leadership and Social Responsibility region • Power of Education • Leadership, Creativity and the Arts • An increase in knowledge relating to diversity and willing- ness to interact more frequently with persons different from themselves Commitment • A desire to become more involved in their community The YLSL program kicks off with a Friday-Saturday overnight retreat in September and runs through April, meeting one to two days per month (except in December). Program days, held during school hours and select “YLSL impacts students’ Saturdays, include a combination of team-building lives by taking them to real exercises, experiential learning activities, site visits/tours, places in our region and and dialogue with community leaders. confronting them with the In addition to program days, participants conduct research complex challenges and projects at their individual schools, with coaching and opportunities that leaders training provided by . must face.”

- YLSL Advisor

focus-stl.org | @focusstl | (314) 622-1250 | [email protected] “Youth Leadership St. Louis showed me that what I say and do has an effect on the community, and it’s up to me to make that effect positive.” – YLSL 2016-17 Participant

Application Process YLSL selection begins in the spring of sophomore year and is 2018-19 YOUTH LEADERSHIP administered by participating high schools. ST. LOUIS PARTNERS

Advisors at each participating school distribute student Bishop DuBourg High School applications. Community leaders conduct interviews to select class members, and students are notified by their Carnahan High School of the Future schools of their selection. Chaminade College Preparatory School Clyde C. Miller Career Academy Program Cost Crossroads College Preparatory School Funding from various companies, foundations and individu- De Smet Jesuit High School als enables FOCUS to offer the YLSL program for only $500 Gateway STEM High School per student. In most cases, the fee is paid by the school/district. Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Thank you to the following donors for their generous support Grand Center Arts Academy of the YLSL program: Ladue Horton Watkins High School • Bank of America Lafayette High School • Cardinals Care Lift for Life Academy • Dana Brown Charitable Trust Marquette High School • Mary Ranken Jordan & Eddie A. Jordan Charitable McCluer North High School Foundation • MOHELA McCluer Senior High School • Nestle Purina PetCare Company McCluer South-Berkeley High School • Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (RGA) • Saigh Foundation Normandy High School • Stupp Foundation Rockwood Summit High School About FOCUS St. Louis Soldan International Studies High School FOCUS St. Louis is the region’s premier leadership development St. Louis University High School organization. FOCUS prepares a diverse base of leaders to work University City High School cooperatively for a thriving St. Louis region through our experience-based leadership training, civic issue education and public engagement initiatives. For More Information Interested in learning more or bringing the YLSL program FOCUS offers a continuum of leadership programs to engage to your school? leaders at every stage of their journey, from high school students to senior executives. More than 8,000 individuals Visit www.focus-stl.org or contact Youth Leadership St. have completed our programs, and FOCUS alumni and members Louis Director Shalia Ford at (314) 657-4021 or shaliaf@ are leaders who make a difference. focus-stl.org.

focus-stl.org | @focusstl | (314) 622-1250 | [email protected]