Youth Leadership Greater Washington

Empowering High School Students to Learn From Community Leaders And Each Other

Overview

Youth Leadership Greater Washington (YLGW) is a five-month interactive youth leadership development and community education program. Founded in 1991, this powerful program serves high school sophomores and juniors in the Greater Washington region. YLGW provides leadership training to these youth leaders while raising their voices around critical issues in the region. Thanks to the generosity of corporate and individual sponsors, youth leaders participate in the program tuition-free.

Young Minds Making an Impact

YLGW engages youth to raise their awareness of critical, relevant issues and challenge their assumptions about their roles as leaders in the world. 

Participants will:

  • Gain leadership awareness and training specifically geared towards youth leaders

  • Build a network of diverse, authentic relationships with other youth peers from around the region

  • Identify community challenges, solutions, and explore how to lead now

  • Learn from the area's most influential changemakers about various leadership topics such as leadership styles, inclusion, social action, and resilience

YLGW Class of 2024 Info Sheet

YLGW in the LGW Blog

YLGW Sponsor

 

Eligibility and Application information

Who Should Apply?

  • 10th & 11th graders
  • Lives in the DC region (DC, MD & VA)
  • Demonstrates leadership qualities and skills in various aspects of daily life
  • Passion for positively impacting the community

 

Maxine R. Baker Scholarship

In 2014, Maxine B. Baker (’99), in addition to the Freddie Mac Foundation, provided Leadership Greater Washington with the generous resources to provide two deserving and talented members of the Youth Leadership Greater Washington graduating class with a scholarship award to help offset college expenses.

One member will receive a $1,000 scholarship award and another will receive a $500 scholarship award. YLGW participants will be notified when the essay application opens at their YLGW graduation in May.

Sage Communications' DEI Scholarship

Leadership Greater Washington and Youth Leadership Greater Washington are partnering with Sage Communications to provide a scholarship award of $1,500 for current or rising college students from historically underserved communities pursuing a career in communications, graphic design, journalism, marketing, public relations, or a related field. Visit the Sage Communications' DEI Scholarship page to learn more and submit an application by April 15, 2024.