In an effort to prepare teens to be effective leaders in their local communities and lives beyond school, the Youth Center will be having their 3rd Annual Leadership Academy from July 7 to July 23 at the nationally top-rated non-profit’s location in Los Alamitos.
“The goal is to provide upper class high school or teens in their first year of college specialized training on how to handle real-world challenges outside of school,” said Youth Center Office Manager Julie Rubin, who is the project manager for this year’s academy. “Course participants will learn about self reliance and self efficacy in a real world setting. We can provide mentors and internships as well.”
Youth leadership has been defined frequently as the ability to envision a goal or needed change, to take initiative or action to achieve such goals and to take responsibility for their outcomes, while working well and communicating effectively with others. “The Leadership Academy gives candidates unique opportunities to prepare to be responsible, effective leaders within their local communities and in their young adult lives beyond school”, said Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme.
While partnering with educators, local business professionals and residents the Youth Center’s academy provides free training in seven workshops including self and social efficacy, goal setting, auto maintenance and knowledge, financial skills, home economics, and career skills.
Only 20 candidates from 16 to 18 years old are selected to participate, and each will be matched up with a mentor for guidance during the academy and on-going (as necessary) upon completion. Each youth will be offered internships to gain real world workplace experience and job skills upon their graduation. They additionally will come away with a 2015 Leadership Academy Certificate of Completion, letter of recommendation, written goals, resume, professional photo, bank account (upon parental approval), and peer-to-peer friendships.
Instructors include a professional counselor who will instruct on such things as overall well-being, self-esteem/confidence, conflict resolution and community involvement. Goal setting with Dreamboard, a popular website, will also be taught on July 7. Workshops on auto maintenance and knowledge will be taught on July 9, followed by financial skills including budgeting/savings, using an ATM, credit card and checking account management taught respectfully by a financial planner and a Southland Credit Union representative. The last three workshops include career skills such as resume/cover letter writing on July 16, home economics such as laundry, preparing a meal, food safety and shopping at ChefTech Cooking School on July 21. The second career skills workshop with interview techniques and strategies along with dressing for the workplace will be held along with a professional photo session upon academy graduation on July 23.
For more information about the Academy, please contact Julie at 562.493.4043 or via email at Julie@theyouthcenter.org.
