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2021 Central Ohio Regional Youth Leadership Forum |
CDE is pleased to have received a grant from the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities to create a Regional Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) in Central Ohio, focusing on Franklin, Delaware, Union and Licking counties. YLF began in California in 1992 as a way to bring young people with different disabilities together and empower them to be leaders in their communities. The YLF curriculum/model has been replicated extensively nationwide, including in Ohio where a statewide version has taken place since 1999. Five Regional Forums will allow personal follow up with local youth participants after the event to continue to build on the leadership skills addressed during the Forum. CDE is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) agency which serves people with any disability of any age. We provide information and referral, independent living skills training, advocacy, peer support and transition services among other services.
In August of 2020, Columbus along with four other regions hosted the first ever Regional Youth Leadership Forum. The Columbus Regional Youth Leadership Forum hosted 17 students from Franklin, Delaware and Lawrence Counties. Topics covered included Leadership Skills, Independent Living, Legislative Meeting Etiquette and Disability History. Students had the opportunity to learn from professionals with disabilities, but they also learned from the social aspect of interacting with one another. At the beginning stages of planning for the YLF, each region was tasked with hosting an in-person forum but with the restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all five regions were forced to convert their respective forums to a virtual setting. We assumed this would take away from the camaraderie that comes from YLF but luckily it did not.
Due to last years success, each region along with a handful more have been tasked with hosting a regional youth leadership forum once again this year. To learn more about YLF, The Center for Disability Empowerment will be hosting two webinars, each at different dates and times for your convenience, so that students, parents, school professionals and local community members can learn more about YLF, qualifications and deadlines for applications.
In August of 2020, Columbus along with four other regions hosted the first ever Regional Youth Leadership Forum. The Columbus Regional Youth Leadership Forum hosted 17 students from Franklin, Delaware and Lawrence Counties. Topics covered included Leadership Skills, Independent Living, Legislative Meeting Etiquette and Disability History. Students had the opportunity to learn from professionals with disabilities, but they also learned from the social aspect of interacting with one another. At the beginning stages of planning for the YLF, each region was tasked with hosting an in-person forum but with the restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all five regions were forced to convert their respective forums to a virtual setting. We assumed this would take away from the camaraderie that comes from YLF but luckily it did not.
Due to last years success, each region along with a handful more have been tasked with hosting a regional youth leadership forum once again this year. To learn more about YLF, The Center for Disability Empowerment will be hosting two webinars, each at different dates and times for your convenience, so that students, parents, school professionals and local community members can learn more about YLF, qualifications and deadlines for applications.
Don't Live in Central Ohio?
See below for contact information for all YLF Site Coordinators
