A Chance In Life, a significant international nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young people, announces the successful completion of its flagship program, the Youth Leadership Workshop (YLW), at The Village on Staten Island. Presented by The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, the program concluded with an exceptional event known as the Innovation Summit, where young leaders showcased their dedication, creativity, and outstanding presentations.
The Youth Leadership Workshop aims to empower and equip participants with comprehensive leadership principles through educational instruction, mentorship, and real-life case studies. Led by the esteemed instructor, Dr. Janet Leslie, the YLW provided a transformative 10-week experience for ambitious and talented students who engaged in educational activities and designed community-based organizations in response to compelling case studies.
Dr. Leslie expressed, “Our goal was to provide an educational practice that enhances human capacity and facilitates leadership learning. The students embraced the opportunity to develop a deep conceptual understanding of leadership through real-life case studies and articles, fostering their growth as effective leaders.” The program particularly focused on the opportunities and challenges faced by girls and young women in leadership roles and how students of any gender can identify, support, and address them.
Collaboration with dedicated mentors played a crucial role in refining the ideas of the young leaders and ensuring that their projects genuinely reflected their passion and potential. The involvement of mentors highlighted the importance of guidance and further enhanced the program’s impact.
“We are immensely proud of our young leaders,” expressed Chris Dowling, Director of Community Engagement at A Chance In Life. “They represent the diversity of the community we serve at The Village of A Chance In Life. The majority of our participants are first-generation Americans and live in linguistically isolated households. The fact that these young people were able to overcome obstacles to pursue education and remained dedicated to our program is a testament to their leadership potential.”
The exceptional dedication shown by the participants underscores the success of the YLW. Each student demonstrated remarkable growth throughout the program, particularly in their conceptual understanding of leadership and their ability to deliver impactful public speeches. Dr. Leslie remarked, “The progress exhibited by these students is remarkable, and it is evident that they have become confident and capable young leaders.”
In recognition of their outstanding achievements, A Chance In Life has announced three recipients of monetary awards for their exceptional presentations at the Innovation Summit on May 11, 2023. These awards not only acknowledge their accomplishments but also provide them with further support as they continue their leadership journeys.
