Introducing… the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) Report Survey Findings!
This document, officially launched during a workshop at the 2024 All Workers Conference by YLI Survey Analysis Team members Jackie Druckhammer and Jonathan Kopecky, brings real data gathered and interpreted through a trustworthy (and lengthy) process. The overall conclusion of the YLI Survey Report is that effective leadership development for youth hinges on the presence and engagement of caring adults who consistently show up and affirm their capabilities. The findings advocate for an intentional approach to adult involvement in youth leadership.
It all started in September 2021, when district staff introduced the NOW Leadership Initiative Toolkit for those looking for next steps in leader identification. Through this effort, each ministry identifies at least one new leader doing a new thing. The leader can be of any age or gender, with the key focus being “new leader-new ministry focus.”
The next step of this initiative came in 2023, when the YLI team developed a new survey to identify critical adult behaviors that support youth leadership development. The survey collected 64 responses and utilized a qualitative approach to interpret the data, leading to the identification of “Key Behavior Themes” through collaborative analysis. The Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) Report Survey Findings, published in October 2024, demonstrates the value of observing and applying specific behaviors to encourage leadership among youth. It emphasizes the importance of adult behaviors in nurturing young people as servant leaders.