Youth Leadership Academy Application

Youth Leadership Academy Application Class of 2014-2015

Information Section Name: Home Address: Home City/Town: Zip: Email: Home Phone: Cell Phone: Parents’ Names: Parents’ Email: Parent’s Phone: Parish Name: Parish Town:

Please make sure that you have the following completed to submit:  Information Page  Completed Questions  Participant Committment (signed and dated)  Parental Agreement (signed and dated)  Clergy Agreement (signed and dated) The application may be mailed, faxed or emailed.

It must be received by Tuesday, September 16, 2014. If you cannot return your application by this date please be in touch with H. Mark Smith at [email protected] to make alternative plans.

Mail: Office of Youth Ministry Attn: H. Mark Smith 138 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02111 Fax: 617-482-8431 (Please also call or email Mark to alert him that this is coming.) Email: [email protected] Application Questions:

1) What makes you want to be a part of the Youth Leadership Academy? What are you excited about? What are you worried about? What do you think you will bring to the YLA group?

2) Identify a challenge you faced recently. What was the challenge? Why was it hard for you? How did you respond to the challenge?

3) What are some of the gifts/ talents/ strengths God has given you to use in your life and ministry as a Christian disciple and leader?

4) What is one of your personal goals for the YLA program this year?

5) Name 3 issues in your local community that you think your church should be involved in? How do you think you can help your church address those concerns? Youth Leadership Academy 2014-2015

Schedule (Locations to be announced)

Sun, Sept 28, 2014 Orientation meeting with parents and YLA participants 3:00-6:00 pm

Fri, Oct 10-Sat, Oct 11 Overnight #1 All overnights begin at 6:00 pm on Friday afternoon and end at 2:00 pm on Saturday. They will include dinner Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

Fri, Dec 5-Sat, Dec 6 Overnight #2 (See note re: overnights, above.)

Fri, Feb 6-Sun, Feb 8, 2015 High School Retreat WEEKEND BCH Camp & Conference Center, Greenfield, NH

Sun, March 8, 2015 Second meeting with parents and YLAers 3:00-6:00 pm (updates on El Salvador trip, fundraising, projects)

Fri, Apr 10-Sat, Apr 11 Overnight #3 (See note re: overnights, above.)

Fri, May 15-Sat, May 16 Overnight #4 (including thank-you luncheon on Saturday for parents, mentors, others, hosted by YLA members)

August 2015 Mission trip to El Salvador (specific dates to come)

These are the whole-group meetings. In addition, there will be two meetings of each small group in between the large group gatherings (most likely Nov and Jan), as well as some check-in calls to individuals, to help keep their momentum going. Youth Leadership Academy, 2014-2015 Participant Commitment

I, ______, have read and will accept the following as a member of the Youth Leadership Academy:

- I will participate fully in all Youth Leadership Academy expectations and activities.

- I understand that I will be required to attend four overnights, two Sunday afternoon meetings, and the Diocesan High School Retreat at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in New Hampshire. Our mission trip will be in August of 2015, dates TBD.

- I understand that only one absence from these activities is acceptable as long as I give Mark sufficient prior notice (more than two weeks), except in case of illness.

- I understand that I will be in touch with my YLA small-group mentor on a regular basis as I work toward developing and implementing a project with the support of my parish.

- I will meet with my parish leadership on a regular basis (to be decided between the two of you), and with my vestry at least once during the year-long program to tell them about my project. I understand that it will often be my responsibility to initiate these meetings.

- I will come prepared to all overnights if previous preparation is needed.

- I will find a member of my parish to serve as my Parish Mentor for the year, someone to help and support me throughout the program. I will be in regular contact (twice monthly) with my parish mentor about my project, YLA concerns, fundraising for the mission trip, and anything else that may pop up!

- I understand that I will have to do fundraising for the August mission trip, and even though I may not reach my goal, I promise to make all efforts necessary to come as close as I can! I will also ask for help in fundraising from my Parish Mentor, the YLA leaders and my parish leadership.

- I understand that success in YLA does not mean finishing a project, making a massive change in my parish/ community or even fundraising the amount needed for the mission trip. Success in YLA means that I have worked hard to think creatively about the needs of my community, deepened my relationship with Christ and with my parish leadership and congregation, and used my leadership skills to bring different people together in relationship in order to strengthen our community/ parish/ town/ group thereby participating in building the kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven!

Signature: ______

Date: ______Youth Leadership Academy Parent Agreement 2014-2015

YLA Participant Name: ______

Parent Name: ______

I, ______, understand that my child will participate in the Youth Leadership Academy Program for the year 2014-2015.

I understand the time and effort commitment expectations that the leaders have set forth, and I have had a conversation with my child regarding their interest in and commitment to the program.

I will make every effort to have my child attend the required meetings and overnights, and understand that these will take place in parishes around the diocese.

I will support my child in their undertaking a parish project, and will assist them as needed for their fundraising in the winter/ spring for the mission trip.

Signed: ______

Date: ______Youth Leadership Academy Clergy/Parish Leadership Agreement 2014-2015

YLA Participant Name: ______

Clergy/ Parish Leadership Name: ______

Title: ______

Email: ______

Parish/ Parish Town: ______

I understand that my parishioner ______is an applicant to the Youth Leadership Academy for 2014-2015.

I understand that he/she will be initiating/ leading a parish-based project in this parish for their YLA leadership project. I agree to support them, brainstorm with them, meet with them on a regular basis (to be determined by the two of us), and encourage other parishioners to be involved with their projects.

I also understand that fundraising for a mission trip is part of this program, and I will assist them in this aspect as I can, and I will encourage the parish to support the fundraising for their mission trip to El Salvador in August of 2015. The fundraising goal in previous years has been $2100 per person.

The above participant is an active member of this parish, and I will encourage him/her to use his/her various gifts, talents and strengths to enliven this part of Christ’s body in the diocese.

Signed: ______

Date: ______