The Northland Foundation deserves kudos for keeping afloat teenagers' plans to help others.
6:20 am, Dec. 30, 2020
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The Northland Foundation Youth Leadership Academy shared this holiday sign with residents of the Steve O'Neil Apartments. (Facebook)
It has been a long year for all of us, including the Northland Foundation's Youth Leadership Academy.
The academy is composed of Northland ninth-grade students who were nominated by teachers the previous year because of their leadership potential.
My daughter was one of the participants. We have her welcome letter dated May 28, 2019, long before we knew what this year would bring. Orientation was in September 2019, and the kids met every month with foundation staff members, volunteer mentors from the business community and guest speakers. They learned interpersonal skills, communication, leadership and community service. They identified the causes they care about and discussed how they could help with a year-end service project.