Celebrating 25 Years of Youth Leadership
Youth Leadership Exchange
YLX started as a single program for 45 metro teens. It has grown to 3 programs serving over 100 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors each year.
Every YLX grad has a story. It might be about the spider web game, the mentor that drove them each month, or a lifelong friend they made in class.
We continue to provide these programs free of charge.
Please considering making a donation today!
Find friends
Things have changed a lot in 25 years. High wasted jeans may be back but email addresses are no longer (fingers crossed) “QT1980@aol.com” and home phones are practically a thing of the past. This means we have lost contact with many of our alumni. Help us reconnect! Fill out the contact form below and share with others you know are YLX grads.
Youth Leadership Program
Celebrates 25 Years
by Katie Rathkey
A youth leadership program that began in 1995 with a goal of building a sense of community now boasts more than 2,100 alumni hailing from 52 Oklahoma City area high schools. Youth Leadership Exchange (YLX) celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020 and the impact it has made in community.
For the next four months, YLX will utilize social media to showcase alumni, program volunteers and agencies who have worked with participants throughout the years. The anniversary campaign will culminate on May 30 with an organized community service project and celebration honoring all former classes and volunteers.
A Community Vision
Originally a leadership program of the American Red Cross, the formation of YLX resulted from community leaders recognizing a need for a diverse youth leadership program representing all parts of the metro area. An advisory board was formed, and Marnie Taylor was asked to serve as program director.
“The opportunity came about at the exact right time for me,” Taylor said. “I was lucky to have the support of so many community leaders and, of course, the Red Cross.”
Taylor, who now serves as the Executive Director for the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, spent almost an entire year researching the elements of a successful youth leadership program and formulating a plan. She and the board were tasked with building a program that served the large geographic area of Oklahoma City. In an effort to ensure participation, Taylor traveled across the city meeting with school superintendents presenting the benefits of the program and securing their buy-in.
“What we really wanted to accomplish with this program was to train leaders and give them exposure to the entire community. We wanted to instill in these young people that effective leadership is the result of recognizing people come from different backgrounds, experiences and environments,” Taylor recalled. “We have to appreciate our differences and work together to move things forward.”
Building a Legacy
The program moved under Leadership Oklahoma City’s guidance in 1996 and has grown from a single class of 40 students focused on leadership skills to three programs serving more than 100 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors each year.
“Throughout the history of the program, it has always been clear that the goal of YLX is to not only build leadership skills, but to ensure our students have strong community awareness,” Amber Shelton, current YLX Program Director, noted. “It’s an absolute honor to work for an organization that has such a strong legacy in the Oklahoma City community.”
With guidance from an advisory board, Shelton oversees YLX’s three programs: Leadership Skills, Youth in Action and Youth Council. The programs focus on leadership development and training, identifying community needs and serving as liaisons between Oklahoma City government officials and their peers.
Shelton, a graduate of YLX Class IV, works with more than 30 community volunteers and leaders to coordinate unique learning opportunities for program participants. “The success of YLX is a testament to the commitment of the community. We couldn’t do it without their support.”
Changing the Community Through Leadership
Twenty five years ago, a group of community leaders sought out to build a program dedicated to improving the community through area youth. Since its creation, Youth Leadership Exchange has provided leadership opportunities to thousands of students from all parts of the Oklahoma City metro area. Its growth and sustained success are a result of dedicated volunteers and board members.
Reflecting on its creation so many years ago, Taylor emphasized, “So many incredible people made it happen, and it was a magical experience to see it all come together. I’m absolutely thrilled with the way it has grown.”