YOUNG LEADERS ACADEMY (YLA)

YLA comes in several fee for service forms: a one-day model, three-day model, five-day model, or large scale customized model. Youth participants develop and enhance a healthy self-concept and self-awareness, identify characteristics of leadership styles, and develop and practice leadership skills as a decision maker, role model, advocate and volunteer. YLA focuses on three core areas: youth engagement in service learning, youth leadership development, and youth organizing while empowering youth to take action in areas that they desire change. In a society that often overlooks the power of youth, YLA equips youth with the training necessary to problem-solve, speak out, and motivate and lead others to action.

Current YLA Tracks

• Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (In partnership with the United Way and Pittsburgh    Public Schools)
• Pittsburgh Public School Middle Grades Summer Dreamers Academy—PYLA Jr.
• Academy Charter School—YLA
• Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners Kids (PSVP Kids)
• Boys and Girls Club National Keystone Conference Day of Service
• CVS Pathways to Pharmacy
• Wireless Neighborhoods—YLA
• FISH Week of Service
• Steel Valley High School TFIM Career Day
• Gateway High School—YLA Workshop

How to incorporate YLA in your youth programming:

YLA programs can be designed to meet practically any time allocation (i.e. one week, one day, weekend retreat) and all fees associated with YLA are negotiated on a case-by-case basis to ensure limited barriers to participants engaging in the YLA experience.

YLA is attracting middle and high school youth from schools across the region. Some have leadership experience; some do not. Some are involved in school and/or community activities; some are not. YLA is designed to unify youth from all walks of life in an experience that is respectful, challenging, and rewarding.

YLA for middle and high school students is a completely customizable initiative that meets the needs of partnering school districts, individual schools, or community-based organizations. Some of our middle and high school YLA initiatives are coordinated over one week, a two-day weekend retreat, two days per week after school, one day via a series of workshops, or a few days per month for several months. We engage students from a single school or organization and across school districts and neighborhoods.

If your school district, individual school or community organization is interested in partnering with Pittsburgh Cares on a customized YLA program, please fill out the YLA Request Form and submit via email to Holly M. McGraw at hmcgraw@pittsburghcares.org.