A brief overview of our revamped leadership training program that I drafted for a foundation funder.

1. Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
Youth Leadership Training Program
Overview
The goal of the Youth Leadership Training Program is to provide youth with disabilities the
critical transferable leadership talents needed to inspire and motivate groups to become a force
for positive social change.
Our Program moves youth through the arc of leadership by providing them with the opportunity
to (1) learn about themselves and how to develop a stronger identity about who they are as a
youth with a disability, (2) engage in thoughtful and guided dialogue about essential leadership
skills and the power of utilizing groups and (3) ultimately lead by putting what they learn into
practice in real-life situations. This all occurs under a cohesive thread employing an
intergenerational approach to continually discuss and learn what worked or didn’t work and why.
We believe this “Learn, Dialogue, Lead” model of leadership development facilitates the
cultivation of leadership skills that youth will not only need for today but to also keep youth
actively engaged citizens throughout their lives.