Annoucement: Professional Development Fellowship

[Mindy Larson]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2000

New Leaders Academy Seeks Rising Youth Employment/Development =
Professionals

The New Leaders Academy, a one-year professional leadership and =
management
fellowship of the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), seeks
applicants for the Class of 2001. Rising professionals from the field of
youth employment and youth development are encouraged to =
apply=E2=80=94especially
those who have demonstrated a commitment to the field for at least five
years.

Throughout the year, New Leaders participate in two week-long =
residential
training sessions, receive guidance from a Career Advisor, and =
contribute to
the improvement of their organizations and the field of youth employment
through Topical Study Groups. Up to thirty applicants will be selected =
for
the Academy, which is made possible through funding from the
Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds and Texaco Inc.

"As a New Leader, I am developing skills for managing youth programs and
building a stronger network with other youth serving organizations," =
says
Chastity Lord, Director of Program Services at Mentors, Inc. in =
Washington,
D.C. and a New Leader from the Class of 2000. "The experience has given =
me a
broader vision of how my work fits into a national agenda."

The New Leaders Academy combines education about what works in youth
employment with self-directed and small group developmental activities.
Instructional sessions are led by experts in policy, program and =
research
and cover a broad range of topics including youth development, workforce
development, program and policy development, evidence of success,
communication skills and personal career management.

"The New Leaders Academy is designed to equip the next generation of =
leaders
in our field with the knowledge, skills and experience to build and =
sustain
effective programs for youth," says David Brown, Executive Director of =
the
National Youth Employment Coalition. "By investing in competent, =
committed
staff, we are building the capacity of the youth employment profession."

Application information will be available online on September 1 at
www.nyec.org. To receive an application by mail contact Mindy Larson,
Program Associate, at nyec at nyec.org , call (202) 659-1064 or write to =
NYEC,
New Leaders Academy, 1836 Jefferson Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
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