Young people possess bright ideas, optimism, and the energy to help change the world. With guidance and encouragement from caring adults, youth are eager to spread their wings and become leaders, now and in the future. The KIDS PLUS Youth Leadership Academy is a unique program created by the Northland Foundation in 1998 to help teens gain the skills and confidence to serve their schools and communities. Approximately 50 students entering the 9th grade, along with 10 volunteer adult mentors, are invited to participate each year. Emphasis is placed on including a diversity of young people, many of whom haven't had a chance to develop their leadership potential in other ways. Over a nine-month period, the youth and their adult mentors engage in a series of interactive workshops designed to teach them more about their community and sharpen their communication, leadership, and teamwork abilities. In the spring, students are ready to take the lead in choosing, planning, and carrying out a service project. Young leaders put their newly honed skills into practice, and the community is reminded of what a valuable resource youth can be. Among past projects are beautifying a public park and trail system, cleaning and painting at an animal shelter, making improvements to a local Boys & Girls Club, and a day of fun activities with older adults living at long-term care facilities. “It’s gratifying to see students grow in confidence over the course of the year. They take on more and more responsibility as the program progresses, culminating in the final service project where they truly shine,” exclaimed mentor, Linda Thompson. Since 1998, nearly 900 young people and 300 adult mentors from 10 northeastern Minnesota communities have taken part in the Academy. The program currently joins the neighboring cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, bringing together students from the Twin Ports to not only develop skills but also build inter-community understanding that bridges geographic and cultural boundaries. Tax-deductible donations from individuals, service organizations, and businesses play a critical role in making this opportunity possible. There is no charge to students or their families; all program costs – approximately $1,000 per student, per year – are supported by the Northland Foundation and gifts from the community. The best testament to the lasting value of empowering youth as leaders comes from Academy graduates themselves, who, even many years later reap the rewards of their experience. Grace Knezevich participated in Youth Leadership during the 2000-01 school year, and she continues to use the skills she learned. “At the time when I was in (the KIDS PLUS Youth Leadership Academy) I enjoyed it, but I did not see myself as a leader. In January 2007, I was given the job of nursing supervisor at the nursing home where I work. I have since then been looking back and drawing upon the things that I learned in the Academy and my many 4-H leadership training experiences. Thank you so much for the work that you do to prepare young people for their future,” said Knezevich. Visit www.northlandfdn.org/KIDSPLUS/YouthLeadershipProgram.shtml for more information.