by Kristen Poppell
4-H Extension Agent I
Nassau County Extension Office
December 21, 2018 11:00 a.m.
On December 6th, Youth Leadership Nassau celebrated regional recognition when it received the Northeast Florida Regional Council’s 2018 Excellence in Education award. Youth Leadership Nassau (YLN) was founded as a project of the Leadership Nassau program and is currently run by Nassau County 4-H. It is a collaboration of hard work by numerous local entities and individuals including the school board, local businesses, and many community organizations. The YLN Steering Committee would like to thank everyone who has assisted with the program as guest speakers, volunteers, hosts of educational tours, mentors, or in numerous other roles to help our youth succeed over the last 15 years. This award demonstrates recognition of a truly community-driven program!
YLN gives high school students from Nassau County the opportunity to meet fellow students, gain increased awareness of community needs, and develop leadership skills. Youth participate in monthly sessions on a variety of topics which include experiential learning, interactions with community leaders, and leadership development lessons. Session topics include Environmental Awareness, Government, and Entrepreneurship. Throughout the course of the program, youth create and implement group projects focused on solving a present-day issue affecting the community.
Since its establishment in 2007, over 250 youth have graduated from the YLN program. Based on short-term evaluations, YLN develops leadership and other life skills (including communication and cooperation); promotes knowledge gain concerning local government, businesses, and community organizations; and provides networking opportunities for students. By supplementing traditional classroom education for these youth, YLN enhances their leadership qualities and prepares them to be future leaders in our community.
For more information about YLN or Nassau County 4-H, call 904-530-6353.