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 • An increase in knowledge relating to diversity and willing- ness to interact more frequently with persons different from Commitment themselves The YLSL program kicks off with opening retreat in • A desire to become more involved in their community October and runs through April, meeting one to two days per month (except in December). Program days, held during school hours and select Saturdays, include a combination of team-building “YLSL impacts students’ exercises, experiential learning activities, site visits/tours, lives by taking them to real and dialogue with community leaders. places in our region and For the 2020-21 school year, plans are already underway to confronting them with the adapt our program for several possible social distancing complex challenges and scenarios, including virtual, small-group and in-person opportunities that leaders sessions. must face.”

- YLSL Advisor

focus-stl.org | @focusstl | (314) 622-1250 | [email protected] “As a result of my Youth Leadership St. Louis experience, I feel like I now have the power to make a real change in my community.” – YLSL 2018-19 Participant

Application Process 2019-20 YOUTH LEADERSHIP YLSL selection begins in the spring of sophomore year and is ST. LOUIS PARTNERS administered by participating high schools. Advisors at each participating school distribute student applications. Community and school leaders conduct inter- Bishop DuBourg High School views to select class members, and students are notified by Chaminade College Preparatory School their schools of their selection. Clayton High School Crossroads College Preparatory School Program Cost Gateway STEM High School Funding from various companies, foundations and individu- Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri als enables FOCUS to offer the YLSL program for only $500 Grand Center Arts Academy per student. In most cases, the fee is paid by the school/district. Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls Thank you to the following donors for their generous support Ladue Horton Watkins High School of the YLSL program: Lift for Life Academy

• Cardinals Care McCluer North High School • Mary Ranken Jordan & Eddie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation Normandy High School • MOHELA • Nestle Purina PetCare Company Saint Louis Priory • Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (RGA) Soldan International Studies High School • Saigh Foundation • Stupp Foundation St. Louis University High School St. Mary’s High School University City High School About FOCUS St. Louis Ursuline Academy FOCUS St. Louis is the region’s premier leadership development organization. FOCUS prepares a diverse base of leaders to work cooperatively for a thriving St. Louis region through our experience-based leadership training, civic issue education and public engagement initiatives. For More Information FOCUS offers a continuum of leadership programs to engage Interested in learning more or bringing the YLSL program leaders at every stage of their journey, from high school to your school? students to senior executives. More than 10,000 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]