Youth Leadership Collier (YLC) Community Leadership Project

AMANDA BEIGHTS, SENIOR DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

Last week the Youth Leadership Collier (YLC) Class of 2020 had an exciting community leadership opportunity. After hearing from Garrett Richter, President of First Florida Integrity Bank and Chairman of the Greater Naples Board of Directors (LC, 93 ), and Libby Anderson, President of TalentForce Solutions (LC, 01), at the kick-off training for first impressions and general leadership skills, students were then presented with a leadership project in partnership with the Community Foundation of Collier County (CFCC).

Laura Simmelink (LC '17), explained that a CFCC donor has pledged $10,000 to support student philanthropy initiatives in Collier County. The donor has given YLC the decision on how the students will deploy $10,000 to a nonprofit meeting a community need. The class first read the Community Needs Assessment, then broke into small groups for discussion on how to create the greatest impact in the community. Essentially, the students will decide which funding focus best fulfills “building a stronger Collier County.” 

Below are the initial ideas the students have brainstormed, and they will decide from there which one topic they will address:

​1) Educating middle school-age children on career options
2) Homelessness in children and the elderly (Those most helpless)
3) Feeding early childhood and Elementary age children
4) Affordable housing for essential workers
5) Housing for families with children

Stay tuned for how this community leadership project continues!

For more information on Youth Leadership Collier (YLC), contact Amanda Beights, Senior Director, Leadership Programs, at (239) 403-2903 or amanda@napleschamber.org.