By the time the 2003-04 Oakland County 4-H Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) ended in June, the 14 members had used their leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills to plan and carry out an educational activity day at Children’s Village, a clean-up project at the historic Baldwin Theatre and an activity fair at Cornerstone School.

Christine Center, a YLI participant, thoroughly enjoyed the intense work involved in the 9-month-long program. “It really gave us a good experience with leadership skills in a positive atmosphere, and it was good to be learning those skills with other people our age. It’s good to have those skills and then be able to go out into the community and actually use them, she said.” Center added that the teamwork, organization skills, and team projects added to the experience.

“I feel like the 4-H Youth Leadership Institute helped me grow as a leader,” said participant Natalie Jamian. “It helped me help my community in a positive way, and participate in projects that make a difference, too. We were able to connect with kids and learn about them and how they live in their different cultures.”

To recognize their efforts, the Institute graduates received a proclamation from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and were honored at a June meeting of the group. In part, the proclamation read, “We recognize the Oakland County 4-H Youth Leadership Institute as an important educational program that provides youth with the opportunity to develop an array of leadership skills, which helps them become valuable members of the future workforce, and extraordinary members of society.”

YLI participant Sadie Boadway said the program made her feel well rounded. “It taught us a lot about leadership, and I use that every day now with student council, helping kids at the 4-H fair, and pretty much with everybody I meet,” she said.

Graduates of the program included Sadie Boadway of Ortonville, Lindsey Branch of Farmington Hills, Christine and Paul Center of Royal Oak, Chris Dondanville of Clarkston, Jonathan and Justin Graff of Royal Oak, Lia and Natalie Jamian of Bloomfield Hills, Alex Johnson of Bloomfield Hills, Loren Jordan of Southfield, Samuel Koehler of Milford, Matthew Mills of Berkley, and Danielle Washington of West Bloomfield.

The peer facilitators were Danielle and David Center of Royal Oak, and Alexandria and Yolanda Haynes of Southfield. Adult mentors were Nancy Dingeldey of Wixom, Becky Killarney of Bloomfield Hills, and Tom Middleton of Clarkston. The program coordinator was Christy Hicks, Oakland County 4-H Youth agent.

The program was cosponsored by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. It was funded in part by T&C Federal Credit Union; Mike Kouza of Group 10 Management; the MSU Alumni Club of Oakland County; MSU Extension LeadNet; Deft Inc. through the National 4-H Council; and Oakland County Commissioner Gregory Jamian.

For more information about the 4-H Youth Leadership Institute, contact Christy Hicks or Tom Schneider at the Oakland County MSU Extension Office at 248-858-0889.