YLX 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
Spots: 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!
What is Leadership Skills?
Leadership Skills is a program of the Youth Leadership Exchange (YLX) and is modeled after Leadership Oklahoma City’s signature adult program. It is organized to teach leadership and communication skills, civic structure, career options, community service, and diversity appreciation…information for now, talents for the future. This is the original program of YLX start in the fall of 1995 as a part of the American Red Cross. YLX moved under the umbrella of Leadership Oklahoma City in 1998.
When are Leadership Skills class days?
The one-day class sessions are September through April, generally on the third Thursday of the month (though some class dates vary). The Opening Retreat in September is required, and graduation happens in May. Regular class day sessions usually run from 8:00a to 4:00p.
What are the goals of the program?
We have three: learning, experience, and impact.
Learning: Leadership means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. As a result, you will have the opportunity to learn a lot about leadership and the various ideas, approaches, and myriad of qualities that make up a good leader from many business and community leaders as well as activities designed to make you think and lead. We cannot tell you exactly what the presenters and facilitators will say. These leaders are asked to treat you just as they do adult groups. They are often very forthright, sometimes controversial, always entertaining. We will ensure that you have plenty of time in the day to discuss what you have seen and heard among yourselves and with program planners. You won’t agree with everything you hear, and neither will we. That’s part of learning – to hear from many voices and make up your own mind. On the flip side, you will be heard by people who haven’t heard from you before, and they will learn as well. Perhaps, at the end of the day, you just might learn something about yourself.
Experience: While certain aspects of leadership can be taught in the classroom, many of them are best learned in the moment and in real-world circumstances. You can watch videos of what issues are facing your community, or you can go and see them with your own eyes and participate in the solution. Whenever possible class days allow you the opportunity to experience leadership principles first-hand and put them into practice in real time. Whether it’s practicing conflict resolution in a role-play, visiting a community nonprofit, learning CPR after going 60 feet in the air on the ladder truck with OKC Fire Department, learning about your personality type, you will always have a variety of experiences during class days.
Impact: Through the Leadership Skills program, you will see the power you have as a leader in the community to affect real change. Class days showcase all the ways that different professions impact the community and how they are interconnected. In learning how amazing Oklahoma City it and what it has to offer you and other, the hope is that you will want to stay or return to OKC and continue to make an impact in your own way on the community here. The experiences that you have and connections you make in and through Leadership Skills will last a lifetime.
What happens during a class day?
As with other YLX programs, we use hands-on experience as much as possible to teach. Each class day focuses on a different leadership skill and/or part of the OKC community. You will have an opportunity to get to know the other students in your class, participate in team-building exercises, and then get into the topic of the day. The class day may include visits to different businesses or community organizations, presentations from key leaders, and hands-on activities to reinforce the things you have seen and learned. At the end of each day, class ends with a caucus, or debrief, to summarize learning from the day, share your experience, write thank you notes to the speakers, and provide additional feedback to volunteers and staff….and of course have fun!
What are the benefits to class members?
Beyond the wide variety of skills you will learn and hands-on experience you will gain, you will engage in class with students from a wide range of high schools from across the city - a major benefit of YLX and allows for a range of learning and networking opportunities not often available to high school students. All the YLX classes are selected with an eye toward gender balance, racial, and cultural diversity. You will also develop contacts and connections with key business and community leaders while seeing firsthand a variety of careers available to you.
Who is eligible to apply?
High school students who will be sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the fall or the home-schooled equivalent are eligible for Leadership Skills (and Youth in Action). They must attend a school whose district touches Oklahoma County. Students from both public and private high schools and home schools are eligible.
Who operates this program?
Youth Leadership Exchange operates the Leadership Skills and Youth in Action programs, as well as the Youth Council of Oklahoma City (a partnership with the Oklahoma City Council), under the umbrella of Leadership Oklahoma City. Adult volunteers -- including city personnel, educators, physicians, attorneys, law enforcement professionals, journalists, and non-profit executives -- plan and implement the program. If asked, volunteers will provide YLX participants with rides to and from class, so lack of transportation will not be a barrier to participation.
How much does the class cost?
As with all YLX programs, neither class members nor their parents pay tuition or any other cost.
How do I apply?
Applications go live in mid-January and are available online at www.lokc.org/ylx. The completed application includes a permission form from the school administrator and a letter of recommendation from an adult who knows the student well. Each completed application is read and scored, and from this pool finalists are chosen to be interviewed. From this group up to 48 students are chosen for Leadership Skills. Those chosen must attend the Opening Retreat, and no more than two absences are allowed. If this could pose a problem, you shouldn't apply. Sophomore and junior applicants who are not chosen are urged to reapply.
Questions:
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Youth Leadership Exchange Program Director at ylx@lokc.org or 405.463.3340.
Leadership Skills
2024-2025
August 20 | 6:00pm
Orientation
September 19
Opening Retreat (MANDATORY)
October 24
Rights + Responsibilities
November 21
Great Communication(s)
December TBD
CONCLAVE (all YLX)
January 23
Body + Mind
February 20
Community Impact
March 27
OKC: Big League City
April 17
Closing Retreat
May 6 | 6:00pm
YLX Graduation
*Schedule subject to change