YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), a leadership program for high school students, provides youth with opportunities to learn advanced leadership skills and become community leaders. During each 10-week session, students examine issues and, through consensus decision-making, select, plan and implement a project creating positive change in their community. In December 2001, youth leaders collaborated with youth from over 20 youth serving organizations to form Real Youth Sharing Expression (RYSE), coming together to organize an entirely youth-led summit in response to recent national and international events. Speak On It brought together over 300 youth aged 14 to 22 from around the San Francisco Bay Area to present, create and experience art, dialogue and media about 9⁄11 and its aftermath.