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On internships and leadership: Be a change agent now

The North Carolina Community Development Initiative’s Youth Leadership Program turned 10 this summer. The Youth Leadership Program, launched in 2008, aims to develop the next generation of North Carolina leaders through an intensive, innovative six-week summer program with three goals:

  1. To introduce students at an early age to the field of community economic development,
  2. To give students a real-life work experience in their local communities, and
  3. To develop leadership skills that students can use moving forward.

Interns have completed projects such as coordinating a community health fair, assisting with creating a business plan, creating youth programs for children, building community gardens, developing community outreach campaigns and assisting with the documentation of the organization’s work in the community (via photos, video, testimonials, reports, etc.).

Tara Kenchen

Tara Kenchen is the president and chief executive officer of the N.C. Community Development Initiative.