FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Leadership Starts Here” Reflects NYLC’s Renewed Commitment to Service-Learning, Youth Voice, and Youth Leadership

Saint Paul, Minn. — Before hundreds of educators, youth leaders, nonprofit professionals, and community partners gathered at #SLC26 at the Points of Light Conference, the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) officially unveiled its new logo and tagline, leadership starts here, marking an exciting new chapter in the organization’s nearly 45-year history.

The new brand reflects NYLC’s evolution as the nation’s leading organization advancing service-learning, youth voice, and youth leadership while honoring the legacy that has shaped generations of young changemakers.

“Leadership doesn’t begin when young people graduate or enter the workforce. It begins the moment they recognize they have the power to make a difference,” said Amy Meuers, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Leadership Council. “Our new identity captures what we’ve always believed: every young person has the potential to lead today. Leadership starts here is both an invitation and a promise that through meaningful service, authentic voice, and opportunities to lead, young people can transform their schools, communities, and our world.”

The official unveiling took place during the opening of the National Service-Learning Conference in Washington, D.C., where attendees were introduced to the organization’s refreshed visual identity. 

At the center of the new logo is a three-pointed star, symbolizing the three pillars that define NYLC’s work:

• Service-Learning: connecting student learning with meaningful community impact.
• Youth Voice: ensuring young people are heard, valued, and engaged as partners in shaping solutions.
• Youth Leadership: equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead positive change.

Together, these three pillars represent NYLC’s belief that leadership develops when young people learn through service, amplify their voices, and take action alongside others to address real community challenges.

The new identity also reflects NYLC’s strategic expansion beyond professional learning in service-learning to become a national leader in civic engagement, youth leadership development, research, and systems change. Through initiatives such as Youth as Solutions™, the IGNITE Framework, educator professional learning, National Youth Leadership Academy, and national research partnerships, NYLC continues to equip young people to become active contributors to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

While the organization’s visual identity has evolved, its mission remains steadfast: To equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to amplify their voices and co-create a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

“Our logo represents more than a new look, it reflects who we are and where we’re going,” Meuers said. “The three points remind us that service-learning, youth voice, and youth leadership are inseparable. When these elements come together, young people don’t simply learn about leadership, they experience it, practice it, and inspire it in others.”

The new brand will be integrated across NYLC’s programs, digital platforms, publications, and national initiatives throughout the coming year, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to preparing young people to lead with purpose, strengthen democracy, and create lasting community impact.

As NYLC looks toward the future, the message remains clear: leadership starts here.