On April 29, participants of WorldOregon’s Young Leaders in Action (YLA) program came together to celebrate the work, the learning, and friendship that they have built over the past year.

Friends, family, and other members of the WorldOregon community came out to support the young leaders. YLA is a yearlong program for high school students from around the greater Portland area who are interested in learning about global issues, exploring other cultures, engaging in service, and taking on a leadership role. As a part of their participation in YLA, these courageous and talented students designed and carried out a project that addresses an issue of their concern in their school or community.  At the showcase, the Young Leaders presented their projects and engaged the audience in conversation about their work. This projects addressed a wide breadth of topics, ranging from a conversation club which connects English language learner students with native English-speaking students, a youth town hall with state and federal representatives to promote youth political engagement, a student-led art gallery that promotes peace by uniting diverse students from around the area, and a book drive for students in Central America-- just to name a few! To learn more about the Young Leaders in Action, check out this story or read their Tumblr blog.

The YLA participants have been a wonderful part of the WorldOregon community this year. We want to thank them for their energy, their involvement, and their willingness to learn about the world. We wish them all the best in whatever comes in the next phases of their lives!

The deadline for the 2018-2019 Young Leaders in Action program has been extended until this Friday, May 11. If you know a young leader who is curious about the world, please encourage them to apply! for details, please see https://www.worldoregon.org/youngleaders or contact Laura Lyons, Youth Leadership Coordinator ([email protected]).