FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New initiative will expand youth leadership development and service-learning opportunities nationwide
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), in partnership with InnerView, is proud to announce new funding support from the C. Charles Jackson Foundation to launch the National Youth Leadership Academy (NYLA). This transformative initiative is designed to strengthen youth leadership development through service-learning, civic engagement, and real-world impact.
NYLA is designed to meet the growing demand from young people for authentic opportunities to lead, contribute, and be recognized for the change they are already making in their communities. NYLA reflects a shared commitment by NYLC and InnerView to ensure every young person has access to meaningful leadership development, service-learning experiences, and opportunities to make a lasting impact in their communities. Through this partnership, students will strengthen essential leadership and civic skills while documenting their growth and community contributions in ways that prepare them for future educational and career opportunities.
“This investment from the C. Charles Jackson Foundation is a powerful affirmation of what we know to be true, that young people are not waiting to lead; they are leading right now,” said Amy Meuers, CEO of NYLC. “The National Youth Leadership Academy will create transformative spaces where young people can strengthen their leadership skills, connect their passions to purpose, and build the confidence to create lasting change in their communities and beyond. This is about helping young people see themselves not simply as participants in the future, but as architects of it.”
“Access to meaningful leadership and service experiences shouldn’t be limited by geography, school, or circumstance,” said Kristine Sturgeon, CEO of InnerView. “By partnering with NYLC and their long-standing expertise in youth leadership development, we’re helping more students build skills, create impact, and tell their story in ways that support their future pathways.”
The initiative aligns closely with the mission and vision of the C. Charles Jackson Foundation, which has long supported efforts that strengthen communities, expand opportunity, and invest in the potential of future generations. Through this partnership, the Foundation is helping to create meaningful pathways for youth leadership development at scale.
NYLA will launch with a cohort of young people from across the United States, with plans to expand through national partnerships with schools, youth-serving organizations, and community networks.
Learn More & How to Support
Those interested in learning more about the National Youth Leadership Academy or exploring partnership and support opportunities are encouraged to connect directly with the National Youth Leadership Council. NYLC welcomes collaboration with schools, districts, youth organizations, foundations, and individual supporters committed to expanding access to high-quality youth leadership development experiences.
Supporters can contribute through partnership, sponsorship, or philanthropic investment to help expand access to NYLA programming and ensure more young people have opportunities to develop their leadership capacity and community impact.
About the National Youth Leadership Council
The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) has spent more than 40 years advancing youth leadership, service-learning, and civic engagement. NYLC works with schools, communities, educators, and young people to create learning experiences that empower youth as leaders and changemakers locally, nationally, and globally.
About the InnerView
InnerView helps students document, reflect on, and demonstrate the impact of their service, leadership, and real-world experiences through official artifacts, skill development, and impact resumes that support college, career, and civic pathways. By engaging directly with students, InnerView provides real-time insights into youth participation, perspectives, and emerging trends, helping schools, nonprofits, and community organizations better understand and support young people as current leaders, influencers, and the next generation workforce.
