Do you know a Berkshire high school sophomore ready for a one-of-a-kind experience that will introduce them to career pathways in the region, grow their network to include students, business leaders, and community members from across the Berkshires, and help develop their leadership skills? Great news: 1Berkshire’s Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is accepting applications!
The Youth Leadership Program, open to all current sophomores in the Berkshires, selects a cohort of up to 30 motivated students from all backgrounds for this 10-month experience that will allow them to explore the regional economy and develop their leadership skills. Once selected, the students will begin the program with an weekend-long retreat during the summer immediately preceding their junior year. At the retreat, students will meet for the first time, begin to build connections, and learn about their individual leadership styles.
Over the following ten months, students will reconvene for one weekday afternoon session per month, held at various locations across the Berkshires. During these sessions, they will meet with business leaders and dynamic community members to learn about a sector of the regional economy, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, nonprofits and community service, the creative economy, and hospitality and tourism. Students will develop leadership traits through activities within the sessions, and as a class, will develop and execute a collective impact project that will enhance life in the Berkshires.
Ben Lamb, Director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire, and program coordinator of the Youth Leadership Program notes that “students in this program leave with a new group of friends from all around the county, a unique and deep understanding of career opportunities right here in the Berkshires, and the pride of completing a project that has positively impacted their community.”
This program is made possible through the financial support of Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union and Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook. The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the dynamic support of the volunteer Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee, composed of professionals from across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate monthly sessions.
Until the February 14th deadline, sophomores from any school in the Berkshires and equivalent-aged home-schooled students may submit an application for the program. Please contact economicdev@1berkshire.com with any questions, and encourage any sophomores you know to apply here!