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 BENEFITS | TESTIMONIALS | COORDINATION | FACILITATION | GETTING STARTED | 
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What is LeaderSpark? LeaderSpark is a curriculum designed to enhance the leadership skills of youth through high-quality, interactive skill-building workshops to produce strong emerging leaders. It utilizes the LeaderSpark curriculum, a specially designed sequenced curriculum, youth-driven discussions, and hands-on interactive activities. How is the LeaderSpark program different from other youth leadership training? Many leadership programs only focus on motivating the individual. The LeaderSpark curriculum is different because it is practical sequenced skills designed to build individual leadership "awareness, practice and application" in a team or group setting. The LeaderSpark training provides all of the materials and expertise for YOU to run an effective program. Please read more about the LeaderSpark curriculum. How do participants benefit from LeaderSpark? LeaderSpark has a long track record of success with sophomore and junior high school girls, with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and with other community-based groups and schools. It is applicable to any group of young people such as a church group, sports team, yearbook committee, sorority or fraternity that wants to build interpersonal skills, plan group projects and train emerging leaders to be more effective. Participants are able to apply what they learn immediately in reaching personal goals in school activities and college or job interviews. The program helps participants to realize the power of peer to peer leadership and how to be agents for positive social change. Please read more about the benefits of LeaderSpark, comments from participants and examples of project or group goals set by participants. How can I offer the LeaderSpark curriculum in my community? LeaderSpark's curriculum can be offered by one or more organizations. The program lends itself to "partnerships" and "co-sponsorship." Key roles or functions to start a local LeaderSpark program include: Coordinate program with youth-serving organizations and volunteers: This entails providing access to high school or college students. This can be a school or a community group that works with youth.Many kinds of groups can play these roles such as schools, universities, civic organizations, community-based groups, businesses, and faith-based organizations. One organization can perform all the roles/functions for the program, or they can be divided among several "partners." Please read more about getting started. Does the program need a "paid" position or can it be run by volunteers? The program is based on a "volunteer-delivery model." The Program Coordinator, however, should be paid or a clearly specified position. An employee of the sponsoring organization can fill the position; or a person hired by the sponsoring group(s) can fill it. The Program Coordinator, who will be trained by the national organization, is responsible for program logistics, recruiting and coordinating volunteer facilitators, marketing and providing communication for program implementation, and evaluation. There also needs to be administrative support services (for example, to send out mailings, maintain the data base of students). This function can be performed by the Coordinator or an employee of the sponsoring organization; or a person hired as an administrative assistant. The LeaderSpark organization will supply the training of program facilitators. How can I get more information? Please explore this web site - it includes a great deal of information about LeaderSpark. If you'd like to be added to our mailing list, please sign up. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions or comments. We look forward to helping you offer LeaderSpark in your community! |
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