Leadership Lorain County offers several programs for the youth of our county:

Leadership Lorain County's Community Outreach Program provides leadership education and leadership opportunities to various segments of our Lorain County community. Those areas are:

• Students in Lorain County middle and high schools through Youth Leadership programs and boys and girls Leadership Clubs.

"Catch the Future" is a program for high school freshman and sophomore students from various Lorain County High Schools. The 8-week program has 15 to 20 students enrolled. LLC believes that being a leader means both taking charge of your own life and working to make the world a better place. Students are identified by both their school’s administration and the student’s parents. Each student then completes an application and interview process before being accepted in the program. Tuition for this program is $400 per student. Scholarships may be available.

The learning model of "Catch the Future" is the following:

• First, Character Education (self)
• Second, Leadership Education (team)
• Third, Civic Education (community)

Strong Girls Strong Women Leadership Club is a sixteen hour leadership training for approximately 20 to 25 seventh and eighth grade girls from the following targeted schools:

• Whittier Middle School in Lorain
• Longfellow Middle School in Lorain
• General Wilson Middle School in Lorain
• Easter Heights Middle School in Elyria
• Northwood Middle School in Elyria
• Westwood Middle School in Elyria

Each girl who applies must have a written permission from her parents; have 2 reference letters from her school officials and a signed agreement to commit to all of the 16 hours of training.

During these sessions there will be one coach/mentor for each five girls to discuss and process the sessions and support each attendee. At the end of the sixteen hours, the girls will be involved in a community project, which will be created and agreed upon by each of the girls.

The program is free to the girls through a grant from The Community Foundation of Lorain County Women's Fund.

For more information on the program, please click here to view the brochure.

• Non-Profit Organization's Governance Boards through annual Board/Governance Training sessions and specific consultation

Annual Governance Training/From Surviving to Thriving: Boards are responsible for governing and overseeing the affairs of nonprofit organizations. Finding the time to have meaningful discussions about governance and accountability practices can be challenging. However, the importance of such conversations cannot be overstated. Leadership Lorain County's Annual Basic and Advanced Governance Training Series; "From Surviving to Thriving" builds knowledge among participants as they consider their collective responsibilites as board members and ways to strengthen governance and ethical decision-making practices among nonprofit boards of all shapes and sizes.

The Basic Training benefits individuals who might be considering or are new to board service, nonprofit staff members and/or interested community leaders. The Advanced Training Series examines the concepts of "good governance" on a deeper and more strategic level and benefits those who are a little more "seasoned" or just plain interested in gaining cumulative knowledge.

Consultation and Individual Board Training: Leadership Lorain County is available to you and your organization for individual board training and consultation. In addition, our Alumni Relations Coordinator is available to assist organizations with board member placement through our over 900 leadership alumni.

• Internships through an array of unique and meaningful experiences within the community to undergraduate and graduate students

Leadership Lorain County Internship Program is a funded program through the Nord Family Foundation and provides local college students with internship opportunities for more than a decade. This program is designed to offer quality 10-week paid internships to local college students while providing our public service organizations with the energy, skills, and dedication that college students bring to these internships. Please see more information under Internship Program on our website.

• "Leadership in the Workplace" workshops for area businesses and organizations:

A company or business that is successful at getting its employees to improve standards, create new ideas, go above and beyond its mission, and exceed the set goals and objectives understands how to cultivate leadership qualities within its employees. Cultivating leadership qualities in the work place is beneficial for helping organizations to excel in all areas of their business. In order to promote leadership qualities in the workplace key staff and executives will be prepared to commit them to developing a training leadership plan. Leaders are concerned not only about their business goals, but also about the people who are involved in the process. Work place leaders must have a clear vision, must be able to effectively communicate that vision to others, and must have a strategy in mind for making that vision a reality. Because communicating and implementing a vision involve working with other people, true leaders are relationship-focused. They must inspire and motivate their followers, often playing the roles of coach and facilitator.

Leadership Lorain County believes that the work place continues to change from generation to generation. Today, employees are no longer content to go to work in complete anonymity. Rather, they want to feel significant, stimulated and challenged, all the while having fun. Effective leaders build a sense of community within the work place. Call our office for a detailed list of training opportunities and to schedule your Leadership workshops.

• Specific leadership training for women:

Leadership Lunchbox Series - Reach for the Stars: Do you feel too busy to connect with other women professionals? Are your connections with female leaders in our community limited? Are you taking the time to mentor our community's younger women and girls?

Here is your opportunity to make a much needed break and convene with some of the most inspirational, motivated and fun women leaders in our community. Here is your opportunity to hear lessons from wise women of influence; an opportunity to create practices for increaing your impact; and an opportunity to increase your influence and build a legacy of leadership for the young women and girl who will follow.

The "Women's Leadership Lunchbox Series" is a monthly get together designed for women and presented by an array of women speakers and presenters. The series consists of eight sessions focusing first: on your individual development based on the belief that women can expand their leadership capacities by acknowledging their unique worth and contributions. Secondly, the focus will also include learning from our more seasoned female leaders and acknowledging their worth and contributions. Lastly, we will hear from our younger women and girls who will share with us what they need to be successful future leaders in our community.

Each attendee is encouraged to bring out their creative and fun side by packing their own lunchbox. Beverages and desserts will be provided as well as some take home gifts. Contact our office or check our our Quick Links box on the Home Page for more information and to view and register for all upcoming sessions.

• Poverty Simulation Experience: A Virtual Experience of life on the edge

The Poverty Simulation is a profoundly moving experience. It moves people to think about the harsh realities of poverty and to talk about how communities can address the porblem. Most importantly, it moves people to make a difference. The Poverty Simulation is a unique, interactive experience that helps people begin to understand what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. Participants are motivated to be part of the solution - and you can make that happen by hosting the Poverty Simulation. Call the Community Outreach office for more details and to schedule a Poverty Simulation.