Programs
Empowering Minds Youth Leadership 2010-2011
What an exciting year!
No one could have predicted the immense success of Empowering Minds in such a short time frame. Throughout the year, youth leadership opportunities provided by the Werklund Foundation, developed into a comprehensive model for Calgary Board of Education students. From grades 5 to graduating grade 12 students, all are challenged and encouraged to step forward in their personal growth. These students realized their potential to be leaders today, right now in each moment of their individual lives.
Through Empowering Minds Teen Leadership Launch, Teen Leadership Breakthrough and Teen Leadership Legacy, students experience breakthroughs in their leadership abilities and are able to personalize their own leadership journey. Each student is able to gain the tool set necessary to succeed at this point in their school and home life. The Empowering Minds’ approach recognizes that students will be acquiring different skills that lead them to their next level of resiliency, focus and self-confidence. Each student is empowered to seize multiple opportunities in school, family and community settings and create their own path to success.
This year alone, Empowering Minds has worked in seven middle/junior schools, impacting 162 students, in addition to five high schools, impacting over 300 students and 30 educators across the system. These numbers bring the overall total of high school student involved in Empowering Minds to approximately 2000 over the past five years. Youth leadership opportunities are expanding on an even larger scale next year as Empowering Minds will be working with more schools, reaching more students and providing more opportunities for educators. The success of this year has been very encouraging and inspiring as we move forward in creating a culture of student leadership.
Continued professional development is being offered to educators of all backgrounds and schools. The Werklund Foundation believes that leadership and personal growth are essential to every member of our community which includes teachers and educators. The sustainability of leadership for everyone rests within the staff and their ability to embrace professional learning opportunities to ensure continued success.
