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Leadership

The FLY Leadership Training Program is a ten-month program for youth who are interested and motivated to become changemakers in their communities.

The FLY Leadership Training Program is a ten-month program for youth who are interested and motivated to become changemakers in their communities. Youth are identified based on their needs for support particularly around education, legal advocacy, social support, and safety.

Watch this video about a youth service-learning project on homelessness in Santa Clara County

Components
Leadership Coaching

Leadership Training Program youth receive intensive one-on-one support from a FLY Case Manager who works with them to design a Leadership Development Plan focused on goals related to self-sufficiency, skill-building, education, and career exploration.

Watch this video about a youth service-learning project on homelessness in Santa Clara County.

Fun Events and Service Learning

Throughout the program year, youth have opportunities to get together with their cohort and do fun things like go-karting, laser tag, and white-water rafting. At these events, youth get to practice prosocial skill building with the support of peers and staff. In addition, youth work together to identify social problems they care about. They engage in social justice education beginning with their personal experiences and then learn about the root causes underneath the community needs they are interested in so they can take action toward social change!

Wilderness Retreat

The Leadership Training Program begins with a retreat that takes youth away from their everyday experiences and into nature to bond with their leadership cohort. Through various activities youth engage in self-exploration and start to form a FLY community with other youth and staff.

How Youth Are referred

Referrals to the Leadership Training Program result from evaluations and assessments by FLY staff of youth but other referrals will be considered. Youth will be required to go through an application and interview process.

Kids at a rock climbing wall

Impact

Group of kids on a field trip dressed as judges and lawyers posing for a photo
Decreased Justice System Involvement

On average, over 80% of FLY’s Leadership Program youth do not experience justice system involvement (i.e., do not sustain a new charge) during the program year. By comparison, national research data shows that without effective intervention, 50% – 80% of youth released from facilities will recidivate.

Increased Educational Attainment

Over 75% of youth experience one or more educational outcome(s) during the program year: high school graduation, post-secondary enrollment, grade matriculation, and school re-engagement. In FY19-20, over one-third of Leadership Program youth graduated from high school or earned their GED and over one-quarter of youth enrolled in post-secondary school or obtained employment.

Graduate hugging a FLY mentor
Young man carrying a bag through a door
Increased Social-Emotional Learning

Lastly, on average, over 75% of youth increase their social-emotional learning skills in at least one of the following domains: self-awareness, social awareness, critical thinking, and self-advocacy.

Together, these outcomes lead youth to greater self-sufficiency, as well as give them the tools to become leaders in our communities.

Contact for more information

Alameda County

Chay Tadeo
chay@flyprogram.org
510-850-4455

San Mateo County

Kelsey Mikols
kelsey@flyprogram.org
408-752 1267

Santa Clara County

Tina Tellez
tina@flyprogram.org
408-504-1832

Two people riding horses and high fiving

Leadership was when everything came into perspective for me. My whole thinking changed.

FLY Participant