2023 Youth Leadership Summit
July 25 - July 29 | Houston, TX
Rice University & Texas Southern University
The 33rd Annual Youth Leadership Summit Recap
Over five exciting days, nearly 450 youth, chaperones, and staff gathered in Houston, Texas, at Rice University and Texas Southern University for the National Urban League's 33rd Annual Youth Leadership Summit. Participants engaged in hands-on activities, pitches, and various hands-on learning opportunities. Check out our program highlights!
Centering the Youth Experience
Our Youth Leadership Summit 2023 theme was We Got Next: Youth on the Rise! Students not only showed us that they were ready, but also they proved it! 2023 was the year of a few firsts -- centering youth, of course. Working closely with adult mentors and professionals, young people showcased their creativity, documentation prowess, and public speaking skills. From our first-ever YLS newsletter to our first-ever Welcome video, and our first-ever YLS song, young people worked together and led the way!
Our 2023 YLS Youth-Led Newsletter
The Journalistic Learning Initiative (JLI), an Oregon-based nonprofit committed to empowering student voices and improving academic outcomes through project-based storytelling, facilitated a weeklong workshop at the Summit. A core group of 18 students learned the fundamentals and significance of journalism, how to improve their photography skills, and produced our first ever Youth Leadership Summit Newsletter!
2023 Welcome Video |
YLS Shorts |
Check out the YLS Song
What does it look like when students from all across the country collaborate virtually to write and perform a signature song that represented the energy of Houston? With production and final mixing by Urban Leaguer Anthony Molden, and vocals from Aidan and Nadia Oes (Austin Area Urban League), Dekarion Wimberly (Lorain County Urban League), and Ricardo Ramirez (Houston Area Urban League), our first ever Summit song, "We Got Next!" is a bop!
Program Highlights
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We spent a full day at NASA learning about the history of space exploration and future endeavors. We saw decommissioned spacecraft, engaged in hands-on activities and met with Aerospace engineer and NASA Astronaut, Dr. Jeanette Epps!
Students let their hair down and showcased their talents and skills through dance, dramatic arts, singing, music, and storytelling at this fun, engaging, and energetic event!
Our four finalists went head-to-head, presenting creative solutions for combatting community violence. For 14 years, the Case Competition has been a highlight of the Summit and this year's riveting and highly impactful presentations were no exception!
As part of Community Day, participants had the opportunity to engage with nearly 40 colleges, universities, and scholarship program representatives. We also offered three interactive workshops to learn about the college experience from application to completion!
Students organized school supplies and packed 400 backpacks for Houston students. In addition, they created personalized, motivational notes of encouragement for students as they prepared to go back to school! |
Relive The Experience
Youth Leadership Summit 2023 Recap |
Youth Leadership Summit 2023 Participant Highlights |
Resources
Learn more about what our participants could expect and what we did at the Summit each day below:
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