Focuses on Important Topics for Valley Youth Including
Suicide, Cyber Bullying, Meanness, College/Career Prep and More
By Michelle McLaughlin
Angel Light Academy’s Annual Youth Leadership Conference has made a difference in the lives of thousands of area youth. The conference focuses on training 5-18 year olds in leadership skills, problem solving, setting boundaries, conflict resolution, critical thinking, public speaking and communication. This year the conference will have special emphasis on problem solving and addressing important topics that are greatly affecting our valley youth – Suicide, Meanness, Cyber Bullying. In addition, the teenage students will benefit from the expertise of local professionals who will present to them on topics relevant to their future: college/trade school preparation, career choices/job readiness, and the military.
ALA 19th Annual Youth Leadership Kick-Off Conference
WHEN: March 11 and 12 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
WHERE: Van Buren Elementary School, 47733 Van Buren St., Indio
WHAT: Angel Light Academy Leadership Institute’s Youth Leadership Conference is for youth ages 5 – 18 and focuses on identifying and solving school, community and personal problems as identified by local students, schools, teachers, parents and community leaders.
PROGRAM CORE BELIEF: ALA believes that if youth learn to solve problems and apply leadership skills, they become more self-confident and improve their self-esteem and self-efficacy and will change their lives forever. Angel Light Academy strives to establish a new paradigm for leadership that is based on service to others and instills this in all youth participants.
COST: $75 donation requested includes training, curriculum materials, and food for the two day conference. Scholarships are available upon request.
ALA’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference
WHO: Angel Light Academy, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation dedicated to teaching leadership to youth and adults. (www.angellightacademy.org).
Angel Light Academy is a caring resource for people of all ages who seek to change their lives. It recognizes the strengths in others and builds on those strengths. The organization provides opportunities to learn new skills that improve confidence and allow individuals of all ages to grow and be the best they can be. Through training, mentoring, and nurturing, ALA creates inspiring leaders who provide exceptional service to others and their communities. The reputation and success of this training organization has resulted in trusted relationships with teachers, school districts and community professionals leading to increased requests for programming.
FOUNDERS: ALA was founded in 1995 by Julia and General Richard Wilmot. Julia Wilmot is truly an angel on earth devoted to the betterment of mankind. She has been a dedicated community leader and successful businesswoman for over 40 years. Formerly, she was the director of Project Prevention, which assisted 600,000 youth during her five-year tenure. The YWCA in Arizona honored Mrs. Wilmot in 2003 with a statewide award as Woman of the Year for her dedication to service throughout the state. Richard Wilmot is a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General who served at the Pentagon and has extensive international business and military experience.
JUNIOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING AFTER THE CONFERENCE
Following the conference, youth have the opportunity to continue learning and growing by participating in ALA’s Junior Leadership Training Program that meets every 6 weeks. The Junior Leadership Training Program provides on-going, in-depth leadership training and empowers youth to become examples of leadership, give in service, and make positive changes in their lives. They develop sound problem solving skills for key areas in their life, health, money, relationships, and school.
Angel Light Academy has seen the positive results of pairing children with retirees. In 2009, ALA started its first Intergenerational Program, which was funded by the Auen Foundation. The Junior Leaders of Angel Light Academy have since evolved this service project into becoming facilitators for the Music and Memory program at two Alzheimer’s facilities in the Coachella Valley.
Visit the website www.angelightacademy.org or contact Erika Baily at 888-311-7388 to register a child or to volunteer for training as an adult facilitator.
