Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Diversity Leaders

In 2007, Diversity Leadership Alliance formed the Youth Council with the goal of cultivating and developing future leaders from diverse backgrounds. Selected students are from a number of Phoenix area high schools who are diversity conscious and have a desire to take on a leadership role in their schools and community. The Youth Council is designed to assist students with transitioning from school to work, as well as provide them with tools and resources to help build leadership skills.

Youth Council objectives include: 

• Assist youth in the transition to the workplace environment
• Develop youth diversity advocates with empowered voices
• Develop skills in student leaders that guide and energize others towards building an inclusive community
• Deepen and clarify the meanings and relevance of the concepts of diversity and youth participation
• Identify priorities and make proposals for a youth agenda in the Diversity Leadership Alliance meetings, business and annual conference
• Assist the youth in creating a cultural change in their school community
• Develop opportunities for youth to explore their own cultures, beliefs and traditions, increasing their capacity to develop relationships with students of different traditions, cultures, and values

Education
Via workshops and conference calls, Youth Council members receive education and training facilitated by renowned diversity practitioners and other business consultants. Students are encouraged to share and apply the skills and knowledge they acquire with school based organizations, community organizations and their places of worship.

Past Youth Council workshop topics have included Emotional Intelligence, The Path: Teaching Youth to Find their Vision, Mission and Map Their Plan of Success, Diversity 101, Yan-Koloba (Teamwork and Character Building), Intergroup Relationships, Engaging our Communities Beyond the Generational Communication Gap and Teens Can Make it Happen

Mentor Program DLA is pleased to announce the launch of our pilot mentor program for school year 2009-2010. Students will have the opportunity to be paired with mentors from local organizations. The mentor program will enhance the students’ goals and development and will provide the opportunity to learn about different career options, as well as understand the skills necessary to transition from high school to college to work.
 
Scholarships
Thanks to the generous donations of companies such as Boeing, SRP, University of Phoenix, Maricopa Community Colleges, DLA has been able to award several scholarships to our Youth Council participants.

For more information or participation in our Youth Programs, please contact Leadership@diversityleadershipalliance.org