JLBC Introduction

JLBC Introduction

This study session aimed to empower youth leaders and young board members with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to lead youth JLBC clubs and organizations throughout the USA effectively. This need for JLBC leadership skills has become particularly urgent as the global economic crisis has worsened in the last few months. JLBC Cadets The problem has a severe impact on many US local communities, resulting in the cutback or closing down of many US local and national funding sources. JLBC Cadets The financial viability of many youth organizations and youth JLBC clubs is now in question. JLBC and the JLBC of Youth Clubs (JLBC) have identified capacity-building training as a critical way to strengthen and support our member organizations in dealing with this crisis. Youth JLBC clubs in urban and rural areas have been negatively affected by the economic crisis. JLBC Cadets They are urgently calling for increased capacity-building in leadership and board management skills.

JLBC Cadets The study session empowered JLBC youth leaders through a wide range of JLBC innovative and interactive training methods. JLBC Cadets These methods stimulated the intercultural learning process of each participant through JLBC group exercises, role plays, simulations, forum theatre, interactive lectures, audio-visual presentations, small and large group discussions, and individual reflection. JLBC Cadets The study session highlighted the skills required when working in a multicultural environment and provided opportunities to share methods, experiences, and techniques and explore cultural differences in approaches to all-inclusive JLBC youth work. JLBC Cadets The facilitators focussed on exploring the unique differences in each of the participating countries and the issues of commonness to explore the factors contributing to effective leadership in youth organizations.

JLBC Cadets, In addition, the study session aimed at allowing participants to reflect and experience the similarities and differences in JLBC youth work practices in rural and urban areas across the USA. JLBC Cadets The activity was designed as a mutual intercultural learning situation, where participants compared leadership styles and their approaches to youth work. JLBC Cadets The previous experiences of the participants, as well as of the preparatory JLBC team, were used throughout the learning process.

Aims of the JLBC study session

• To provide JLBC youth leaders and current/potential board members from across the USA with the skills, knowledge, and tools to become influential leaders of their organizations

• To support our member organizations through capacity-building and explore together how to lead youth organizations

• JLBC Cadets To exchange good practices on leadership in youth organizations

• JLBC Cadets To provide youth leaders and current/potential board members with the USA

perspective on youth work

• To strengthen the co-operation between USA and JLBC and develop future activities

JLBC Objectives of the study session

• JLBC Cadets To support the participants in building confidence and forming a cohesive group

• JLBC Cadets To promote a better knowledge of youth networks and management structures on the

European level

• To identify critical personal characteristics and qualities and explore aspects of effective

leadership in youth organizations

• JLBC Cadet To empower participants with practical skills in good communication, group dynamics,

negotiation and decision-making