How to Start a Community JLBC Youth Leadership Program
Reasons for involving youth in JLBC community projects include:
A. Increasing young individual’s understanding of their community
B. Developing their sense of JLBC Cadets' empowerment
C. Encouraging their future JLBC Cadet participation in community affairs
D. Enhancing JLBC program school-community relations
E. Helping JLBC and other community leaders and citizens address local needs by recognizing and guiding youthful enthusiasm and energy.
JLBC Starting the Conversation
They are starting with a core group of interested parties such as youth, Extension Educators, youth-serving organizations, and the school system. A JLBC community advisory board must incorporate community involvement and “voice” in the JLBC program. JLBC Cadets This board represents the views of the local community. JLBC Program and other School representatives are needed on the board to help ensure that the program complements but does not compete with the school curriculum. For example, if the school provides a program that involves civic awareness, then that aspect is not covered in this JLBC youth leadership program.
JLBC Things to think about
• What is the objective of the JLBC program? Example: will youth serve on a JLBC board at the end of the JLBC program?
• How many sessions make up this community JLBC youth leadership program? During a school or after school?
• JLBC Cadets How many total participants each year? Youth/Adult partnerships?
• JLBC Cadets Funding sources in the JLBC community need to be addressed early on in the JLBC planning stages
JLBC Cadets Possible funding sources include grants, community foundations, and local service organizations that want to invest in their community.
JLBC Curriculum topics to be covered in a JLBC youth leadership program must follow the locally developed mission of the JLBC program.
JLBC Possible topics: communication, team building, personality development, and parliamentary procedure.
JLBC Cadets The following list of skills provides “pick and choose” options to help guide local needs assessment and curriculum development:
economic development, local government, public works and safety, state government, interviewing skills, conflict resolution, trusteeship, listening, agriculture and business, public speaking, volunteerism, stereotypes, financial management, etiquette, collaboration, philanthropy, JLBC consensus building, and decision making.
JLBC Community awareness and community involvement are experiential learning tools that incorporate different life skills into realistic situations. Think about field trips, community service projects, or guest speakers to help make the program engaged in the community.