The Youth Leadership Development Institute (YLDI)

The Youth Leadership Development Institute targets ninth through eleventh grades and other students who have either demonstrated leadership capabilities or skills or have an interest in leadership. These students must be mature enough to interact with individuals of different interests and backgrounds, intellectual enough to participate in a rigorous curriculum, and possess high integrity.

It is a program of information, associations and motivation whose mission is to "train tomorrow's servant leaders today."

Key objectives are to:

• a. expose youths to leadership models, theories and opportunities
• b. instill the importance of service as the key element in leadership
• c. provide experiential leadership learning experiences

These objectives are achieved through leader development seminars and experience; Memphis walk-a-bouts to learn more about the city and the self; service learning opportunities (2); self reflection opportunities; team building and effective meeting exercises; and through thorough training in all phases of communications and interpersonal skills.

Since its inception, the program was designed to include a diverse set of students in a discussion of their roles, present and future, in their communities, society and the world. Thus, it includes diversity training and global understanding as key elements in the learning experience.

Over the past 31 years, over 930 students have benefited from this project. Former students play key roles in the program. The 2008 opening speech was delivered, by a 1989 participant who is now the Director for Diversity for the Tennessee Board of Regents; the closing speech was given by a 2003 participant-Tarrick Mabon-a Morehouse College graduate who now works for Turner Broadcasting Systems(TBS).