At the Y, our unstinting focus on youth development means that we need to be flexible in developing and implementing programs that meet young people where they are, and recognize that as kids grow into young adults, they need new experiences and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Y Leaders Club is a great example of that. A program for teens that focuses on building leadership skills through community service and more, Y Leaders Club participants gather in cohorts in Y family centers throughout the school year to organize and provide volunteer service in their local communities. Along the way, they gain valuable knowledge, training, and skills that help shape them into young leaders.
One of the many special opportunities for Leaders Club participants is to be among those selected (based on participation) to attend the Blue Ridge Leaders' School in the mountains of North Carolina with fellow young leaders from Ys across the country. This week-long immersion experience uses physical education as a basis for building leadership skills, fostering teamwork and reinforcing healthy values.
Ryan Novo, Senior Program Director, Y Teen Experience, led the Blue Ridge trip and upon his return reflected on the experience of the 19 youth from central Maryland who attended. I’ve excerpted parts of an email he sent to many of us:
Good afternoon,
In a year with so many uncertainties, Blue Ridge Leaders Club was exactly what we needed to feed our bodies, minds and spirits. On Saturday, July 24th, we departed for another great week to rest, learn and grow, and we are so humbled for these moments, and we returned safely on Saturday, July 31st at 10:00 pm.
We had five teens who returned for their second year (of a 6-year curriculum), and the others were all first-year Leaders on the mountain. Our teens came together with a couple hundred others to participate in classes and clinics which will help them be better leaders in our Y's, our communities, and in their personal lives.
The school's theme was "Be Unstoppable," and each day had a word that would lead us in our journey: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Faith and Inclusion.
All of our teens did a phenomenal job showing up, attending their classes and passing their tests, which allow them to return next year. Some of our teens also received stars for their clinics, which means that they accomplished certain skills in those areas.
One of our teens, Carter Thorn, from the Orokawa Y in Towson, was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Blue Ridge Leadership Scholarship for college. This scholarship is funded by the school leadership team. Carter applied and was given a recommendation by his Club Advisor, Emily Pendleton.
I'm so proud of this work and of the amazing teens and Y associates who make Y Leaders Club such a transformational experience. Thank you Ryan for your leadership and commitment to this program, and thanks also to Mary Grace Gonzalez, Amanda Griffith, Zalanka Jones, and Emily Pendleton, all of whom lead our Y family center Leaders Clubs and accompanied Ryan and the youth on this trip.
I expect big things from these young people and can't wait to see where their passions and strengths take them!
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland