Youth Leadership Rutherford
Youth Leadership Rutherford is a selective civic education and engagment initiative for high school juniors and seniors in Rutherford County. It is directed by the Leadership Rutherford Chair, Executive Director and Business Education Partnership Executive Director. YLR is currently a private, not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization, existing soley on tuition, private donations and fundraising activities.
Youth Leadership Rutherford consists of an orientation program in September, seven seminar days from October- April and graduation in May. Each day focuses on a major area of community concern and explores issues of leadership within the context of that subject. The goal of each day is to open the minds of participants to the viewpoints that surround each issue and enable young people to become more visionary leaders.
Applications are available in January for the following year.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Youth Leadership Rutherford and commend anyone who receives the honor to be in this program. Along with the activities you are already involved in at school, church, or home, you can always remember the values you've learned with YLR!"
"Youth Leadership Rutherford was a defining experience for me. This program encouraged me to take a leadership role and work wih others to server our community."
"The Business and Education Partnership has been successful in instilling a great love and respect for community and government within its young people. My experiences in Youth Leadership Rutherford can attest to this fact [….] The knowledge and exposure I gained through programs sponsored by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Education Partnership have served me well in a variety of settings and mediums.
