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Leader in Training By CoRi FishER, ChaRaCtER & LEaDERship DEvELopMEnt CooRDinatoR
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he Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows provides opportunities to our teenage members to enhance their leadership abilities and learn valuable workforce development skills. These programs include Youth of the Year (Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members), Keystone Club (a program that provides teens an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience), and the Leaders in Training program (a club service-based program geared toward members 14-17 years of age). The goal of the Leaders in Training program is to help our young members develop interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic and a sense of community engagement while experiencing on-the-job Club work. Our Leaders in Training are required to contribute 200 Club service hours, complete a financial literacy course, and complete a career preparation course, all while maintaining passing grades in school. Once these requirements are met, these Leaders in Training are eligible to apply for a paid position as a “Junior Staff.” Jasmine Lobos is currently a Junior Staff at our Donald L. Carano Facility, and offers a great insight into the daily life of our teenage members involved in the programs listed above.
Jasmine Lobos: what got you into BGCtM’s leadership programs? “My coordinator Marquise always told me I had leadership skills because I was always helping out around the Club. After he told me about these programs he convinced me to try it out.”
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what leaders inspire you to be a better leader? “Martin Luther King Junior. He got out of his comfort zone, risking himself, to help everyone else.” how has the Boys & Girls Club of truckee Meadows helped you become a leader? “The Boys & Girls Club has helped me become a leader because it’s helped me be a role model to other kids and it makes me want to do well myself so others follow.” what is one important lesson you have learned as a Leader in training? “The most important lesson I’ve learned as a leader has been realizing that everything is not just about you, but it’s about your team. For example, as a leader at the Club you have to focus more on the kids here than yourself.” annabelle swenson a special advertising supplement to Reno News & Review DECEMBER 19, 2019
2019 kids news & review 19
