Goals

To provide opportunities for participants to develop an understanding of the meaning and responsibilities of personal, organizational and community leadership and to produce ethical leaders committed to active community involvement.

This is accomplished by a series of sessions offered between July and April including an opening retreat, six program days, graduation, a class project and an opportunity to serve on a community organization's board of directors.

The overnight Opening Retreat will focus on team building and defining what leadership is. Students will have an opportunity to explore a personal philosophy of leading and leadership. Interaction with classmates at the retreat and throughout the year will foster a life-long bond.

The six program days will focus on various current topics related to issues in the Tallahassee area. Held on school days from 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m., participants in the class will meet at a central location in the community to begin the day's experience. A typical day on business and technology might include:

• A panel discussion about entrepreneurship made up of young entrepreneurs and moderated by a top local business leader.
• Site tours of little known yet very successful businesses in our community with international impact including presentations by their CEO's.
• A leadership skill building exercise on interviewing techniques or investing.
• A class team building activity focusing on developing the class Web site for use during the year and beyond.
• An opportunity to sign on with a local business leader mentor for advice and guidance through high school graduation.

"[The Business Day] helped prepare me for the business world." YLT Class 3 Graduate