LMTI SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight On: Youth Leadership

If there is one word that is synonymous with LMTI, it’s probably LEADERSHIP. At LMTI, we are firm believers that there is no such thing as a born leader. If we believe that leaders are just born that way, then we believe that leadership can’t be taught, learned, or enhanced- you’ve either got it, or you don’t. This theory would cut off most of the youth we work with from ever even taking a step toward believing they have the potential to lead! The question is, how do we teach leadership? How can we take a concept that seems so abstract and make it something that everyone can understand, learn, and practice?

One our very favorite examples is from the incredible author, presenter, and trainer, Michael Brandwein. In his books (go buy them all right now), he compares leadership to plumbing. Plumbing? Yes, plumbing. If we were going to create a program for plumbers, we’d know exactly what to teach them. There would be presentations on wrenches and bolts, workshops on best practices in unclogging drains, and we’d all practice “lefty loosey, righty tighty.” But leadership? What can you teach? Well, you’ve got to approach in the same way. What are the specific things we want our youth leaders to be able to do? What are the core qualities they need in order to be able to do those things? If we want them to be able to lead small group discussions, we teach them group facilitation skills and empathy and we give them opportunities to practice running groups and being empathetic. If we want them to be be able to be able to present a project to the principal at our school, we teach them about public speaking and we give them opportunities to practice, practice, practice. We help youth identify the qualities they’ve already got strength in and we help them develop the qualities they don’t through practice. Plumbing. Leadership. Perfect together!

Our Spotlight this week features a webinar and resources that you can use to hit the ground running with a group of youth leaders, or to brush up if you’ve been working with your group for awhile. There are also a few resources below that focus particularly on opportunities for our youth leaders to do what they do best- lead- even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Webinar Series

Join LMTI Training Coordinator, Corey Donetz, and learn more about how we can help young leaders grow. We’ll explain some key skills you can use to help build the youth leaders you work with.

We’ll also learn about the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets Framework, which can be considered a foundation of understanding how youth develop.

WATCH HERE

Journal Printouts

A free resource you can share with the teenagers you work with filled with easy to do positive self care and mindfulness activities. We’ll be providing new pages every week, so they can build a journal that will grow and grow!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Resources

An ever growing list of resources that can provide support, hope, and help can be accessed on the LMTI Resources Page.

You can also check out these links, which feature helpful articles and other resources specific to youth leadership:

40 Developmental Assets

Check out more info on the Search Institute’s framework, which contains supports and strengths that young people need to succeed.

Service & Community Engagement During COVID-19

Portland State University provides a great list of tangible activities that young leaders can get involved with during this pandemic. Some are specifc to Oregon, but most can be adapted for wherever you live!

Using The Pandemic To Teach Your Kids to Be Good Citizens

More info from the Search Institute, this time about how to help youth of all ages discover ways that they can feel helpful and hopeful during a time of crisis.

Please continue to let us know how we can help YOU help the youth you work with during this time. Thank you for believing in the power of youth!

The LMTI Staff

Summer Leadership Conference 2020 Update

SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2020 UPDATE

An Important Message About the LMTI Summer Leadership Conference from Jamie Sierfeld, LMTI Director

We are deeply saddened to share the disappointing news that we will not be hosting the LMTI Summer Leadership Conference this August. After reviewing CDC guidelines and American Camping Association recommendations for health and safety during this time and having countless back and forth discussions among our staff, we have arrived at the decision that there is just not a feasible way for us to come together at Camp Mason in the way that we usually do.

For our staff, to give this news to you is heart breaking. We know the value that LMTI has for your students, and to not be able to provide this experience for them, especially during this time, is so difficult. As a youth leadership organization, we will be actively engaging our youth and college staff in helping us to figure out the “what now?” and we have no doubt that these young leaders will help guide us in the right direction. They always do.

We are working diligently to provide you and your students with alternative types of programs and support virtually for now, and in person during the fall and winter months when we are hopefully able to be together again. We will be in touch soon with descriptions of those programs and more info on how you can participate.

Thank you for your continued patience and support during this trying time. We know this isn’t the news that you hoped for, but we know that we are making the right decision for the health and safety of the LMTI family. Wishing you and your families continued health and peace.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jsierfeld@pipnj.org.

Thank you,

Jamie