Additionally, recent national trends including an increase in youth civic service and new emphasis on civic education in schools indicate a growing need for leadership training to ensure young people are prepared to participate in political and civic life.

Youth leadership programs differ somewhat in approach from adult programs in that they must be educational, engaging, and entertaining. They should instill an active awareness of community development and a healthy respect for civic ideals. Such activities should take place within an environment where students can interact with other young people, learn from mistakes, and successfully tackle common issues.

Myriad training programs and funding sources are available for youth leadership development—from educational service-learning projects to leadership seminars and scholarship grants. The following list serves as a resource clearinghouse for educators, community development professionals, and young people themselves.

>> View general resources
>> View resources by state

General Resources

America's Promise
www.americaspromise.org
America's Promise seeks to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by encouraging its national partners to expand opportunities for youth programs. It offers a variety of youth-oriented conferences, programs, and leadership opportunities in addition to research and progress reports to its partners.

Congressional Youth Leadership Council
www.cylc.org
The Congressional Youth Leadership Council offers education leadership conferences for outstanding young people from across the USA meant to inspire today's youth to reach their full leadership potential.

Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership
www.hoby.org
The Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation works to stimulate opportunities for young people to demonstrate their leadership abilities when they return home for betterment of community through leadership workshops, conferences and seminars.

National Civic League's List of Youth Leadership Resources
This list contains referrals to organizations that provide training, programs, tools, and funding for youth leadership.

National Youth Leadership Council
www.nylc.org
The National Youth Leadership Council's mission is to build strong communities with young people through service learning. It offers an array of research literature, student conferences, service initiatives and awards.

Youth Leadership International
www.leaders.org
Youth Leaders International is a modern, vibrant, and fun organization for today's youth and tomorrow's leaders that provides leadership training and programming through mentoring, life skills, and service projects.

Youth Leadership Development Information Clearinghouse
www.youthleadership.com
An online resource clearinghouse on youth leadership development information, with noteworthy news and events, relevant literature and a community forum.

Youth Today, The Newspaper on Youth Work
www.youthtoday.org
Youth Today is an independent, national monthly newspaper that focuses on professional development and youth issues. Resources in the newspaper include professional workshops and conferences; youth-related media reviews, research, legislative issues and funding sources.

YMCA
www.ymca.com
YMCA programs offer numerous learning experiences for teens to come together for a common cause and be active and informed citizens. Many programs involve teens in hands-on learning projects that instill civic education and community pride.

4-H
http://www.4husa.org
4-H is the youth education branch of the Cooperative Education Service, available to every state and county in the United States. Youth ages five to nineteen can participate in programs such as workshops, camps, and social activities that help to build leadership skills.

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Resources by State

Alabama

YourTown Alabama
Inspired by the success of community workshops for adults, YourTown Alabama conducts workshops geared toward Alabama youth. The vision of the youth workshops is to inspire Alabama teens toward greater participation in community design.

Georgia

Kentucky

Brushy Fork Institute
The Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College helps promote leadership opportunities and practices in communities in East Kentucky through active leadership training for youth.

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Maryland

Maryland Student Service Alliance
The Maryland Student Service Alliance serves to enhance youth leadership skills in service learning throughout the state of Maryland through conferences, outreach, and training opportunities on grantsmanship and community building.

Maryland Youth Action Corps
This pilot program of the Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism was launched in 1995 to provide a way to involve youth in service and leadership opportunities. It offers conferences for youth, publications and resources for youth leadership.

Mississippi

Mississippi State University Extension Service
Mississippi State University Extension Service, along with 4-H has designed Leadership 2001 and Beyond, a curriculum for youth and adult volunteers to explore with members of the 4-H club fundamental leadership theory and practice.

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North Carolina

Western North Carolina Tomorrow
Western North Carolina Tomorrow builds community capacity by generating public discussion of civic issues. Its youth programs encourage young leaders to build valuable leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through hands-on community service projects.

Ohio

Ohio Youth Action Council
A diverse group of dedicated youth with a strong focus on advancing youth leadership and service activities, the Ohio Youth Action Council empowers young Ohioans through the advocacy, promotion, and development of community service through projects, scholarships, and in-depth training programs.

Ohio-West Virginia YMCA
A pioneer in youth leadership development based on service-learning principles, the YMCA develops local youth service retreats to groups throughout Ohio and West Virginia.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Youth Foundation
The Pennsylvania Youth Foundation offers interactive conferences, scholarships and awards, and research in the field of leadership development.

South Carolina

Clemson University Youth Palmetto Leadership
Youth Palmetto Leadership provides high school students with experiential and classroom learning through direct involvement in a community or school activity to enhance the quality of life of the community.

Tennessee

East Tennessee Teen Institute
The East Tennessee Teen Institute offers workshops and seminars that help youth develop leadership, communication, and planning skills, with the mission of fostering peer support to avoid substance abuse.

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Virginia

University of Virginia Center for Politics—Youth Leadership Initiative
The Youth Leadership Initiative, a citizenship education program for youth, encourages greater interest and engagement in American democracy among today's students through classroom projects.

Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center
The Southwest 4-H Educational Center is committed to providing a fun, experiential learning program at a low cost for 4-H youth ages 9-19 in Southwest Virginia's 13 constituent counties through hands-on camps, workshops, and seminars.

West Virginia

West Virginia Leadership Academy
Through practical understanding of leadership potential, participating high school students explore the historical and cultural background of West Virginia through annual four-day field trips exploring the resources of the state.

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Looking for additional information on leadership?
See the Leadership Resource List.

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