VALLEY TEEN LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
Teen Program Cultivates Leadership Skills and Fosters Community Involvement
PHOENIX—Valley high school sophomores and juniors looking for a chance to hone their leadership skills, educate themselves about the community and explore solutions to critical local issues impacting their lives are invited to apply for the Valley Teen Leadership program.
Fifty students will be selected for Valley Teen Leadership (VTL), which begins in January 2008 and runs through the end of April. Now in its 12th year, the premier teen leadership program includes an orientation, one-day retreat, six program days, and a graduation celebration. There are no tuition fees for the program. Teen participants will have an opportunity to interact on a regular basis with key adult leaders in the Valley and will be educated on ways in which they can serve their communities through topical speakers, on-site visits and discussions.
“One of the strengths of the Valley Teen Leadership program is that it draws students from a broad variety of geographic, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds,” said Doreen Pollack, Program Director. “That diversity makes for dynamic discussions and the rare opportunity for participants to examine key local issues from very different perspectives.”
Graduates of Valley Teen Leadership can be found serving on local boards of directors, volunteering at nonprofits throughout the Greater Phoenix area, donating time to the Governor’s Youth Commission and various city youth commissions, as well as holding leadership positions at their schools. Teen graduates of the program have said: “I have joined more clubs and feel more self-confident after Valley Teen Leadership.” “I am participating more within my community and I’m always looking for further ways to help.” “Valley Teen Leadership helped me talk more openly about my opinions on different subjects, from personal to current issues.”
Copies of the application are available by calling (602) 952-6760, ext. 2 or by going to www.valleyleadership.org. Completed applications must be turned in to the Valley Leadership office by no later than Friday November 9, 2007 at 5:00pm. This free-of-charge program is made possible because of the generous donations of APS, Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona Federal Credit Union, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Cox Charities, Thunderbird Charities, The Otto & Edna Neely Foundation, and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
ABOUT VALLEY LEADERSHIP
Valley Leadership, now celebrating its 29th year, is the umbrella organization for the Valley Teen Leadership program and the Leadership Institute for adult leaders, as well as Community Connections, which includes school board training workshops. The mission of Valley Leadership is “to enhance the abilities of individuals to serve and strengthen our communities.”