Youth Leadership and Mentoring
Young People Are Not Simply the Future. They Are Leaders Today.
Youth possess knowledge, creativity, lived experience, and leadership potential that should actively shape the organizations, neighborhoods, and systems affecting their lives.
Contributors, Not Recipients
We do not see young people as people waiting to be helped. We create opportunities for them to become contributors, mentors, creators, entrepreneurs, workforce professionals, and community leaders.
Leadership and Mentoring Across Every Program
Leadership and mentoring are developed across all 846s.org programs, not in one place alone.
A participant in Emotional Intelligence may become a discussion facilitator.
A drone participant may become a peer mentor or community demonstrator.
A certified pilot may help newer participants prepare for FAA Part 107.
Youth leadership is therefore both a program area and a practice embedded throughout the Human Experience Ecosystem.
Leadership Through Action
Participants develop leadership by:
- Facilitating conversations
- Mentoring newer participants
- Demonstrating drone technology
- Introducing peers to Emotional Intelligence practices
- Planning and completing projects
- Working with parents, elders, educators, and entrepreneurs
- Building professional portfolios
- Sharing knowledge with the community
- Creating opportunities for others
Show and Tell, Not Just Tell
Confidence grows when young people can demonstrate their abilities, share what they have created, mentor someone else, and see their contribution valued.
Success becomes visible.
Leadership becomes shared.
Possibility becomes contagious.