Youth Leadership Exchange (YLX) is the premier leadership program for high school students in Oklahoma City. We connect today’s teenagers who are already leaders or show leadership potential with OKC’s most important citizens, businesses and nonprofit leaders.

Established in 1995 with one program, YLX now consists of three (3) possible tracks for interested students: Leadership Skills (original program), Youth in Action and Youth Council of OKC.

Most importantly, YLX is absolutely free-of-charge to participants. We’ll even provide transportation if necessary!

Leadership Skills

Focus: Participants will learn personal leadership skills, opportunities for community engagement and their role as citizens of the OKC Metro from a variety of top-level area leaders.

Eligibility:
• high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
• no GPA minimum

Participants: up to 48

Time Commitment:
• Seven (7) monthly sessions [Sept - Apr]
• Opening Retreat - mandatory [Sept]
• YLX Conclave [early Dec]
• YLX Graduation [early May]

Location: each month, a different OKC area business/organization will host our session

Skills attained:
• self-awareness
• ethics
• communication styles
• conflict resolution
• crisis management
• healthy habits
• accountability
• … and more!

LS FAQs

Youth in Action

Focus: Participants will form a mini-foundation to fund an organization that falls within their desired mission statement - then spend the spring raising financial support from local donors.

Eligibility:
• high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
• no GPA minimum

Participants: up to 48

Time Commitment:
• Seven (7) monthly sessions [Sept - Apr]
• Opening Retreat - mandatory [Sept]
• YLX Conclave [early Dec]
• YLX Graduation [early May]

Location: each month, a different OKC area business/organization will host our session

Skills attained:
• meeting management
• identify community needs
• reviewing grant applications
• healthy debate
• communication and compromise
• donor relations
• fund raising/how to “ask” for money
• … and more!

YIA FAQs

A program of the City of Oklahoma City

Youth Council of OKC

Focus: Participants will represent the City Council of OKC in their schools and communities. Youth Councilors work directly with their City Council representatives to learn about public service, explore city services and attractions in each ward, upcoming OKC projects and how city officials work with citizens to make OKC the incredible city it is today.

Eligibility:
• high school juniors and seniors with GPA of 3.0+ [on a 4.0 scale]. MUST live in OKC city limits

Participants: 18 (2 per city ward and 2 at-large)

Time Commitment:
• Outside classwork required (ex: monthly reporting)
• Appointment by City Council [mid Aug]
• Opening Retreat - mandatory 2-day [late Aug, Fri-Sat]
• Seven (7) monthly sessions [Sept - Apr]
• YLX Conclave [early Dec]
• YLX Graduation [early May]

Location: each session will be held at City Hall, with transportation to city facilities by city vans.

Skills attained:
• self-awareness
• city infrastructure & operations
• public speaking
• teamwork
• accountability
• public safety and health
• economic development and impact
• external vs internal communication
• communication styles
• … and more!