Inspiring Leaders Program

The Inspiring Leaders Program (ILP) is an experiential leadership development program that provides 9th and 10th-grade students with intense leadership and service project planning training, mentorship, plus funding to execute service projects.

Join the Movement

About the Inspiring Leaders Program

Youth Action's Inspiring Leaders Program (ILP) is an intensive, two-year leadership development & civic engagement program for students entering 9th and 10th grades. Through experiential leadership, mentorship, service project planning training, and college and career exploration, ILP develops students into socially responsible leaders who serve beyond the organization within their communities.

ILP is designed to develop students through two (2) phases: Experiential Leadership Development and Project Planning and Implementation. During the Experiential Leadership Development phase, ILP students participate in fun, interactive sessions that strengthen their leadership skills, gain exposure to local leaders, and engage in service learning.

During the Project Planning and Implementation phase, ILP students collectively brainstorm creative ways to address a community issue in a positive, impactful, and sustainable way. Students are challenged to create and submit a comprehensive project proposal for approval that is actioned on at the end of the Spring semester.

Hear from Our Student Leaders

“Youth Action made me perfectly competent to be a leader anywhere I go. I am comfortable with being an active leader taking control over a project or group, and I am also comfortable being a passive leader without saying a word.”

“Youth Action shaped my way of understanding leadership and service in my community by allowing me to identify myself as a human rights activist. I’m not afraid to fight for what our community needs. From Youth Action, I have become a better orator and a more confident leader.”

“A very important thing I have learned from Youth Action is the importance of perseverance. If you fail at first, keep trying. I apply this in school with subjects I may not understand at first. I persevere by studying and trying to re-apply techniques.”

Program Goals and Objectives

Youth Action exists to galvanize a generation of leaders who are socially conscious and will take charge to inspire others create positive change in their communities and world. Aligned with this overarching purpose, the Inspiring Leaders Program is designed with the following goals and objectives:

Theme 1: Inspire

Theme 2: Lead

Theme 3: Serve

Theme 1: Inspire

Theme 2: Lead

Theme 3: Serve

Program Components

Experiential Leadership Development Sessions
Bimonthly in-classroom training led by Program Directors, College, and High School-level facilitators covers a range of topics, including personal goal development, communication, professional development, and service learning. Each session includes icebreaker activities, interactive learning, social issue exploration, and opportunities to understand citizenship, civic engagement & change planning.

Speaker Series
During selected Experiential Leadership Development Sessions, students will hear from experienced business and community leaders who present on various topics.

Site Volunteer Experiences
Program leaders and facilitators organize site volunteer opportunities for students with local organizations that align with Youth Action’s mission. These experiences are meant to expose students to service and local community leaders while allowing them to understand the inner workings of leading service initiatives and organizations.

1-1 Mentorship & Bonding Experiences
Each student will be matched with a program leader or facilitator who will serve as a dedicated mentor. Mentor check-ins should happen no less than biweekly, on off weeks, and focus on assessing students’ wellness, school and home life, program performance, progress with leadership assignments, and overall wellbeing.

Youth Action Organizational Events
Youth Action organization-wide events are required for students across all programs. These include student-parent orientations, student-created service projects, and other Youth Action-sponsored events.

Key Benefits

Students who participate in the Inspiring Leaders Program:

Receive up to $5000 in funding to ideate and execute their own, unique community service project
Receive bimonthly leadership development and service project planning trainings
Gain the ability to speak publicly and lead program sessions
Plan and execute organization-wide service and fundraising events
Deeply explore local, national, and global current events and their impact
Gain exposure to local business, community, and political leaders
Gain exposure to colleges and universities plus various career paths

Why Join Youth Action?

Make an Impact

Participate in service projects that address real world issues and challenges in the Greater Philadelphia area while making a difference in your community.

Develop Leadership Skills

Learn to lead, collaborate, and innovate while diving into leadership development topics ranging from communication, time management, and goal-setting.

Build Your Resume

Gain valuable experience and skills that will set you apart from your peers as you pursue further education and career experiences.

Have Fun

Meet new friends and participate in exciting events and activities that will help you form lifelong relationships and connections.

INTERESTED IN THE
Inspiring Leaders PROGRAM?

We're looking for high school students who are ready to become socially responsible leaders and bring about real change in Philly. Applications are being accepted now for the 2024-2025 service year. Apply today!