A FULL DAY OF ENGAGING ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, INSPIRE ACTION, AND CREATE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS!
A collective effort to provide opportunities for diverse youth leaders to get inspired and expand their vision of a welcoming, safe, and supportive community for all.
This initiative was made possible by co-hosting with the Office of the Mayor, Columbus Human Rights Commission, the African American Fund of Bartholomew County, NAACP Bartholomew, Su Casa Columbus, Latino Education Coalition, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
About the day
2023 marks the second year for CYD's all-day Youth Empowerment Summit, which brought almost 100 students from all over Bartholomew County to the Columbus Learning Center on March 31 for a day of learning, leading, and growing.
This year, Youth Ambassadors wanted to focus on the mental health of their peers and decided to have four seminars to help build their skills in leadership development, creating a sense of belonging, financial management, and celebrating their unique voices.
Students rotated through three seminars facilitated by local experts and supported by a Youth Ambassador team. Seminars included "Adulting in 2023," "Boundaries & Being Me," "Diversity Speaks," and "Successfully Failing." Everyone attended "Successfully Failing," focusing on coping with failure and keeping mental health in check. Students then chose two of the other three seminars to attend. These workshops were thoughtfully designed to allow participants to reflect on their strengths, share insights with other teens, and take away resources to help them become the leader they want to be.
Keynote Speaker
Hanna Omar | Commercial Banker and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Co-Chair JP Morgan
A commercial banker with JP Morgan Chase, Hanna grew up in the Bronx, New York, moving to Columbus in 2011. With a BA & MA Political Science Fordham University, MBA Indiana University She jumped right in to service her new community by supporting nonprofits as a volunteer, taking a leadership role with the Columbus Area Multi Ethnic Organization, and getting involved in our community.
THE SEMINARS
You will have the opportunity to rotate through three sessions facilitated by local experts and supported by a Youth Ambassador team. These 45-minute workshops have been designed to allow you to reflect on your strengths, share insights with other teens, and take away resources to help you become the leader you want to be. Everyone who attends will participate in “Successfully Failing” and will have the opportunity to choose the other two seminars they would prefer to attend.
SUCCESSFULLY FAILING
Emily Spagnuolo
Do you sometimes feel 'less than' because you didn't succeed at something? Do you 'fake it 'til you make it'? We can help! After you leave this seminar, you will find it easier to cope with failure and walk away with tips on how to keep your mental health in check.
Youth Ambassador Hosts:
Siya Sonalkar, Mauricio Juarez, Bella Kilps
adulting in 2023
Centra Credit Union
Are you ready to take those first steps toward independence? Do you have questions about how to set up your own bank account or what it really takes to move out on your own? We’ll talk about everyday expenses, budgeting, and what you can do now to set yourself up for success in 2023 and beyond.
Youth Ambassador Hosts:
Kylee Dieter, Jacob Stansbury, & Lesli Flores
Boundaries & being ME
Skye Nicholson
Do you have trouble setting boundaries for yourself? Do you feel that you’ve lost who you really are? You are not alone! By the end of this seminar, you will have practical tools and strategies to set boundaries and avoid burnout while being uniquely you.
Youth Ambassador Hosts:
Cayden Lynott, Eden Knight, & Lydia Ferril
diversity speaks
Youth Ambassador Hosts:
Paula Ramos Perez, Dane Tibbs, Bo Crough
Summit Sponsors
The Youth Empowerment Summit was made possible through the generous support of the following grants: Indiana Department of Health Title V, JDAI, and the Mark & Wendy Elwood Foundation.
Thank you to the 2022-2023 Youth Ambassadors and Summit Planning Team for all their tremendous help and effort planning the event.