Leadership Team

The YEP Lead Team has the POWER and the FREEDOM!

“To do what?” you ask?
“To do what has never been done before, or to make what is old even better!”

	Frequently, adult politicians ask about what is best for youth. Why not consult the young people – who eagerly wish to be asked? To pull the solution into sight, the Youth Empowerment Project has created these much needed partnerships and consultations between youth and adults.
	- Colin Tucker, Leadership Team Member, YOB Board Member with Ann Arbor Symphony and Orchestra, Senate Representative to the School Board, Community High School, 2003

The Lead Team is comprised of teens from 8th to 12th grades who each come to the table with experience and interest in one or more of YEP’s programs. Through their collective knowledge and experience, they guide YEP in many ways:

• Create marketing and promotion strategies to inform their friends and the community about YEP activities. This means that if there is a video, newspaper, or TV interview to be done, THEY are the ones to do it and get other kids in front of the cameras with them!
  
  
• Write press releases and articles for community and school newspapers.
  
  
• Support existing YEP programs with PR and recruitment activities as well as help kids who are starting new projects.
  
  
• Find community partners among businesses and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to support YEP programs and teens taking action.
  
  
• Seek collaboration with other community organizations for new or ongoing projects and special events.
  
  
• Plan and conduct Basic Leadership Training (BLT) twice a year, in October and March, for teens already involved or interested in participating in YEP programs or other youth led community programs. BLT is required for participation in YEP’s Youth On Board (YOB) program.
  
  
• Plan and schedule YEP’s Advanced Leadership Training series (ALT). The ALT series is a seven part series of two-hour workshops over the school year. It is required of teens serving in a board or committee position with a local organization through YEP’s YOB program and is open to all teens serving in leadership positions in YEP or other community programs.
  
  
• Write and negotiate for grants, locally and nationally. This includes advocating for more funding for youth led and youth in decision-making programs.
  
  
• Assist the YEP Board of Directors by assigning teens to standing board committees and special event committees such as the Pre-Holiday Reception and Annual Spring Picnic.
  
  
• Advise the YEP Board of Directors on positive changes occurring and challenges to be addressed.

Are you interested in joining or assisting the YEP Lead Team? Email us at leadteam (delete for spam control, invalid addres) @youthempowerment.com.