Youth Initiatives

This core area of work at NYLC helps transform young people, providing them with the skills to become agents of change. Through participation in a summer National Youth Leadership Training experience, NYLC’s Youth Advisory Council, the National Service-Learning Conference, and NYLC’s Board, young people develop into leaders who can address community challenges through service-learning.

During the summer’s National Youth Leadership Training, youth from diverse backgrounds across the country experience a mix of self-discovery, cultural exploration, team-building, and skills development. They explore issues of community involvement, race, oppression, ethics, and strategies for addressing the achievement gap.

Equipped with service-learning knowledge and skills, they return to their home communities inspired to mobilize their peers to rethink what “achievement” means and act on educational disparities.