Youth Leadership Authority

Youth Leadership Authority (YLA) YLA is a nonprofit 501c3 designed to keep teenagers and young adults (12-21) involved in youth leadership programs throughout their high school careers and afterward. We are not a one and done program. We are along the lines of the Chamber of Commerce for all teens, families and educators. A few stats: 82% of teens that graduate our programs go on to college and 41% join a military branch, police or fire.

Teens are involved in our programs from 2-6 years and grow through the ranks of each program. Eventually, resulting in an Associates, Bachelors or Masters in youth leadership. Please click this link to hear our story and understand our vision: https://youtu.be/rrbKlelOebI Youth Leadership Authority (YLA) .

YLA offers a curriculum to address the challenges of teenagers. Our programs encourage a strong work ethic, built on morals and values. Our students engage in the application and delivery of leadership knowledge with mentors. Mentors are past graduates, community leaders, physical fitness instructors and career choice influencers. We provide leadership and confidence training, financial literacy, workforce development guidance and ethics/conflict resolution. To maximize benefits, we pair like-minded students for peer-to-peer support. Students grow through the ranks of each program which creates an “espirit de corps” brotherhood. Our individually tailored 12-week program is built around physical fitness and team-building activities. Students receive guest lectures from financial literacy professionals, career leaders, and emotional intelligence coaches. The schedule is intertwined with community service efforts.

Students do not qualify for graduation from the program unless they complete at least 24 hours of community service. This program is followed by 12 weekly sessions, guided by our mentors and coaches. Upon completion of this program, qualified students earn the honor of attending a 10-day leadership encampment at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base: the “Devil Pups Encampment.” A program that instills “Growth through Challenge” since 1954. Attendance of all the above, results in students receiving a degree in Youth Leadership

Our program has close ties with the Clark County community see pics and videos with governmental agencies, veteran organizations, military branches, law enforcements agencies, and the Clark County School District.

We are deeply rooted in Marine Corps ethos. As such, our mentorship program is focused around the 14 leadership traits of the United States Marine Corps: (Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty and Endurance). These traits are the hallmark of a good leader and the base of our curriculum that provide students with tremendous value as they embark on their professional careers. Community service isn’t an afterthought, it is at the core of our organization.

YLA participants must achieve 24 hours of community service to “pay it forward” to the community that so graciously provides them this opportunity. This teaching promotes empathy, kindness and appreciation. In one of our community service efforts we have been solely responsible for the placing of more than 25,000 flags at veterans’ gravesides; at the Veterans Memorial cemetery in Boulder City. We have completed 26,000 hours of community service work for the state of Nevada, veterans’ organizations, Clark County School District and law enforcement agencies. We host “YLA Impact Gives” where we provide, water, food, clothing, toiletries and hot meals to Street Teens; an organization focused on homeless teenagers. We also give to Veterans Village; an organization focused on homeless veterans. Most recently, we supplied basic items to the homeless at the Care Complex – providing blankets to the homeless population. These items were collected by participants, their families, and our community partners. This instills our core values HRPKH = Honesty, Respect, Peace, Kindness and Humility.

Our program is individualized and cyclical We are not a one and done program. We are along the lines of the Chamber of Commerce for all teens, families and educators.