DonateEmpowering Future Leaders: Celebrating the Spring 2025 Youth Leadership Workshop
From March 3 to May 3, 2025, the Youth Leadership Workshop (YLW), a program offered by A Chance In Life and generously presented by The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, brought together students from Susan E. Wagner High School for a transformative journey. This year marked a milestone as we introduced the workshop in Spanish, expanding to run two cohorts simultaneously —one in English and one in Spanish—empowering youth from diverse backgrounds to lead with confidence, empathy, and purpose.
Throughout the ten weeks, young students engaged in dynamic workshops designed to foster leadership, resilience, and global citizenship. Here’s a glimpse of what they learned:
Professional Development: Resume building & Interview skills, Public Speaking, Personal Branding and Digital Presence, Workplace Readiness: Workshops on Professional Image and Dress for Success and Workplace Dynamics.
Personal Growth: Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution Strategies, and Physical Wellness.
Global Citizenship: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a field trip to the United Nations Headquarters, Financial Literacy, The importance of community service, Civic Responsibility and hands-on volunteering at The Village.
This program’s success would not have been possible without the dedication of countless individuals. We extend our deepest gratitude to The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, whose investment in youth empowerment makes this life-changing program possible. We are also grateful for the support of our community partners, especially the staff at Susan E. Wagner High School. Thank you to all the guest speakers, judges, volunteers, mentors, and staff members who offered guidance and support to these future leaders!
The Final Challenge: Leadership in Action
On May 3, 2025, participants faced their ultimate test: The Youth Leadership Workshop Challenge. Over three timed tasks—building a one-handed marshmallow-spaghetti tower, designing a community issue mural tied to the SDGs, and engineering an egg-drop parachute—teams demonstrated collaboration, creativity, effective communication, problem solving and resilience under pressure. Our judges evaluated teams using criteria like teamwork, innovation, and communication, and ultimately selected the two winning groups at the end of the day!
The Youth Leadership Workshop has become a launching pad for youth discover their skills and build their confidence. By covering topics like financial literacy, global citizenship, and emotional intelligence, participants gained tools that will help them navigate challenges in life and drive change in the world around them. As one student reflected, “This workshop taught me that leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about lifting others up, even when things get tough.”
These young leaders inspired us all. As our Board Member and judge, Gabriela Pera, shared: “Today, our youth were confronted with real-life scenarios that mirror the challenges they will face in the future—and they rose to the occasion with resilience, creativity, and trust in one another, adapting, problem-solving, and supporting their teams every step of the way.”
As we celebrate the Spring 2025 cohorts, we’re reminded that leadership begins with opportunity. To the participants: Your journey is just starting. Carry these lessons forward, and continue to lead with heart.
To our supporters, judges, and partners: Thank you for believing in the power of youth. Together, we’re building a world where every young person has a chance in life.
Help us empower the next generation—your support gives more young people the chance to learn, lead, and thrive.
Author
Elser Llanos
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