The class of 2009

Valley United Way's Youth Leadership Program is completing its 20^th year, and applications for 2010 are now available. You can follow the students throughout their year by clicking here.

The primary objective of the Program is to develop teens into future community leaders. They learn about community needs in the Valley and the importance of nonprofit agencies and the role volunteerism plays in addressing those needs. Applications are accepted annually from students either attending high schools in the Valley or residing in the Valley and attending schools outside the Valley.

After the members have been recruited, they head off to a Weekend Team Building Retreat at Camp Jewell, a YMCA Outdoor Center in Colebrook, Connecticut. There, they are given a dynamic hands-on learning experience that emphasizes learning in several major areas: trust, leadership, and communication. The many activities during the Retreat also help build self-confidence.  The Retreat is an experience designed to bring the group together as a team for the first time.  Throughout the year, members will receive training by corporate community members.  Training includes workshops in diversity, problem solving/decision making, interviewing and public speaking.  Members also participate in community service activities during the program year.    

Each fall, members conduct a needs assessment survey in order to determine community needs for programs and services aimed at high school students.  When the results have been compiled and needs identified, a Request for Proposal is sent to all nonprofit organizations in the area, asking for proposals to be submitted for funding of programs and services that focus on the identified needs. Youth Leadership members review and evaluate the proposals as part of their own formal allocation process.  Since 1990, Youth Leadership members have allocated more than $50,000 in funding.

You can also learn more about the program by viewing pictures and stories from previous years:

1996   1997  1998  1999    2000  2001   2002  2003  2004  2005 2006  2007  2008 2009

If you have questions about the Youth Leadership Program call Pat Tarasovic at Valley United Way at 203-926-9478or e-mail at Patricia.Tarasovic@valleyunitedway.org. 

The Youth Leadership Program is made possible through the generous support of the Raymond P. Lavietes Foundation which provides core funding.

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