What does it take to be a good leader… or even a great leader? Anyone can learn to be a leader, although it is recommended to learn leadership skills at a young age. To some, leadership comes naturally. To others it is a process that must be developed through coaching. Either way, effective programming benefits a young leader tremendously, and learning from others is of utmost importance… especially when it comes to important issues such as the environment.
In a world, that is in desperate need of environmental leaders, we need to start cultivating young change makers early on. Young Adults Environmental Leadership Program (YAELP), a brainchild of career educator Mr. Dave Bauer, M.S., has been established to invite students from Buffalo’s regional schools in order to cultivate their environmental sensibilities through mentor driven programming.
YAELP is currently setting out to launch its 7th workshop, and is interested in having community members attend the launch of the program to see what the programming is all about. It’s one thing to dream about ways of helping our environment… it’s another thing to be able to affect change in the community and the world. “We would like to invite any persons from our community to stop by on March 2 to hear each of the 8 teams do their presentations on their projects,” said David Bauer. “Community members are invited to act as advocates for the teams, as all the teams benefit when the community members offer ways they are willing to support the students projects.”
Young Environmental Leadership Program, March 1st & 2nd, 2013
Here are just a few examples on how students can make a difference in their own community…
“How might we start or improve the recycling in our school/community?”;
“How to get some working solar panels and a wind turbine on our school roof”; and
“How might we improve the looks of our school grounds and local community?”
The schools/organizations that attend YAELP are ALL in the city:
International Prep at Grover
Health Sciences Charter School
South Park HS
Frank Sedita
Southside
Ujima Performing Arts
Nichols
Youth Leaders – Erie County (Leadership Buffalo)
All projects developed at the UB workshop will be implemented in the city.
Description of the program:
The Young Adults Environmental Leadership Program (YAELP) is the training and delivery arm of Sustainable Earth Solutions, Inc. The YAELP starts with a 2 day training conference with eight schools and organizations attend in attendance. The intent of this conference is to use creative thinking and leadership skills that are applied to the plans of action that teams create while attending the conference.
The teams are composed of five to six students along with a teacher/advisor. Participants from each school and organization come to the 2 day conference with an environmental challenge/problem they wish to address in the school or community.
The outcome of the conference is that each team has created an action plan they commit to implementing following the conference. Eight weeks after the conference, the teams must complete the required “Seed Money Criteria”. Once this is verified, a team can receive a financial award of up to $500 for the continued implementation of their project.
The YAELP participating teams are paired up before the conference to help expose each team to persons of varying economic and ethnic backgrounds. Diversity training provided by the National Foundation for Just Communities (NFJC) through which participants will gain insight into ways to effectively collaborate across ethnic and economic boundaries.
Among the outcomes for each team that attends the YAELP are:
Skills in strategic planning of an environmental initiative
Designing and implementing a plan of action
Follow up mentoring by the training team for 8 weeks after the 2 day conference
Seed money for each youth team’s project
Traning in “change leadership” skills
Event is at University of Buffalo, Greiner Hall
March 1 & 2 – Times 10AM – 3PM
Testimonials from past clients:
I really liked how everyone got involved on how to help the environment (Shawna Mault – Alden High student)
This Summit has really encouraged me to take part in activities at our school and to help myself by helping the younger generation clean up our world. (Derrick Parmer – McKinley student)
(On being a “Change Leader”…) Be a person who doesn’t look for praise in doing good deeds. Do them for fulfillment of duty to others. (Arielle Reed – Park School student)
I learned to have faith in myself. (Lyman Munschauer – Nichols School student)
I thought this whole idea was GREAT! I realized how big of a difference just a few people can make. I’m very excited to get started on the projects we’ve created. (Courtney Lindsey – Alden student)
I learned the power of groups of motivated people. I love the networking – the idea of working together and supporting each other. I love the positive energy! (Kelly Spurlock – Canisius High teacher)
I was able to not only learn about new problem solving techniques, but also take away new ideas from people who share the same values…on the environment as I do. The Summit creates an opportunity for our school to become successful in “green” ventures. (Michael Olek – Canisius student)
I learned how to solve environmental issues in unorthodox ways. CPS (creative problem solving) helped me turn dead-ends into great ideas. (Michael Szymoniak – Canisius student)
Yesterday, after hearing Dave’s speech (on Change Leaders), I went home and thought about it. At first I couldn’t decide on what to do. Then, I realized I really DO CARE about the environment. Because of Dave’s speech, I know that I am now going to start being 100 times more dedicated to the Bailey Peninsula project. I really think that we can make a difference (South Park student)
YAELP is a first time recipient of a $10,000 grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation this year
The model employed at the YAELP has been developed at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College. This model is research based and is used in educational and business settings throughout the world.