Youth Leadership ending its 12th Year

Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Program wrapped up its 12^th year with the announcement and funding of special grants and a special community service project at the Wicke Center.

Prior to making the grants, the student's had also conducted a very successful benefit concert. Click here to learn more.

The Program’s primary purpose is to provide a vehicle by which the Valley’s future community leaders and volunteers are trained and developed. Since the inception of the Program, over 250 teens have participated. This year the Program’s membership consists of high school students from public and private schools in the Valley. The high schools represented this year are: Ansonia, Derby, Emmett O’Brien RVTS, Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame of Fairfield, Notre Dame of West Have, St. Joseph School - Trumbull, Seymour and Shelton. Each year, members are put through a series of training programs that help them develop the skills related to team building, problem solving and decision making, organizational and personal skills, as well as self esteem and self confidence.

On Thursday, March 22^nd the 12^th Annual Member/Parent Reception was held at the Valley United Way in Ansonia. This was an occasion for the incoming members and their parents to have a full understanding the Program and the events of the upcoming year. Since many of the members do not know each other, the reception was great opportunity to first meet other members and the staff at Valley United Way’s. Jack Walsh, Executive Director of Valley United Way, discussed the origins of the Program and how it has evolved in the ten years since its inception. Lisa Shappy, Director and Advisor for the Youth Leadership program gave an overview of this year’s timeline and returning members highlighted the events from last year.

Following the kick-off, the members attended a weekend Teambuilding Retreat at Camp Jewell in Colebrook, Connecticut on April 27 through April 29. Camp Jewell, the YMCA Outdoor Center, is a dynamic hands-on learning experience that emphasizes learning in several major areas: trust, leadership, and communication. The Retreat is a "mini-outward bound" type experience designed to bring the group together as a team for the first time. Experienced camp staff are skilled in drawing analogies between each activity and the work the Youth Leadership members will be doing throughout the year. Click here to see a photo album from Camp Jewell.