Building a Better Tomorrow: Youth Leaders

The goal of the Board is to promote youth empowerment and self-advocacy. In 2006, the Wisconsin Statewide Transition Initiative (WSTI) established a Youth Advisory Board. The board members work with WSTI coordinators to present trainings to teachers on the concepts of youth development and leadership and what teachers and organizations can do to get youth meaningfully involved in the work they do.

The WSTI Youth Board is made up of youth with disabilities ages 17 to 28, representing various disabilities, ethnicities, and transition experiences. Some members have experience with pursuing employment opportunities, some are attending a post-secondary school, and some are pursuing independent living goals.

The Board was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with Jonathon Mooney and LeDerick Horne. These nationally-acclaimed presenters on youth development and leadership spent two days with the Board in November of 2006, working with them on the concepts of leadership, self-advocacy, and development of each member’s “story”---a way to initiate communication with different groups and to convey their connection to the ideals of youth leadership and development.

This year, along with their continued commitment to support and advise the WSTI coordinators, the members of the Youth Board will be assisting in the presentation of regional meetings in the fall around the topic of meaningfully involving youth in their IEP meetings. Members have presented or participated in several state and national conferences, including the WI Transition Conference, the WI Rehabilitation and Transition Conference, and the National Community of Practice on Transition.

The Board is also working to develop ways in which to make connections at the local level throughout the State of Wisconsin by possibly pursuing activities such as “e-mentoring”, in which Board members would be available to answer questions and lead discussion topics by youth, for youth.

If you would like more information regarding the WSTI Youth Board, please visit the WSTI website (www.wsti.org) or contact Jen Ledin, WSTI Youth Board Facilitator, at (715) 682-2363 Ext. 149 or jenniferm@cesa12.k12.wi.us.

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