Did you know that the state of Georgia has over two million potential young leaders? Of course, not every child in this growing population will become a recognized leader. But with encouragement, training, guidance from mentors and role models, and the explicit expectation of leadership potential instilled at an early age, many of them will. With help from adults around them, hundreds of thousands of these children-whatever their socioeconomic or ethnic background-can develop the leadership skills they need to become the local community leaders upon which a vibrant Georgia depends.

Unfortunately, two-thirds of Georgia's counties do not have an ongoing youth leadership program to develop their youth. In those counties that do have sustained programs, only a small fraction of the youth population is reached annually. A review of Georgia's youth statistics regarding drug abuse, teen violence, low educational attainment, teen pregnancy and other serious problems convinces us of the immediate need for aggressive intervention in every county.

At the University of Georgia Fanning Institute, we believe that leaders are made, not born...that every person possesses leadership potential...that leaders have a responsibility to develop other leaders...that universal leadership skills can be taught, learned, and adapted to specific circumstances...that with leadership training comes the commitment for volunteer action...and that a substantive, well-designed curriculum of leadership development training can benefit Georgia citizens of all ages, in all communities, from all walks of life.

In support of these beliefs, the Institute has developed a vision embodied in a comprehensive, three-tier approach that addresses youth leadership development at the school, community, and regional levels.

Youth Leadership in Action: A Community Focus is an 18-hour leadership skill-building curriculum that incorporates issue-based discussions, field trips and service projects. It is designed to be taught by adult volunteers. Community-based organizations, such as chambers of commerce, civic organizations, human serice agencies, adult community leadership alumni groups, parent-teacher groups, and others, can use this resource for out-of-school youth leadership programs.

Youth Leadership in Action: A High School Focus is a Georgia Department of Education approved, one Carnegie unit, academic curriculum with a strong service learning component. This social skills elective allows students in grades 9-12 to practice leadership skills. Beginning with understanding self, the content moves to skills needed for interacting with groups and culminates with issues of living in communities.

Benefits of a comprehensive approach in developing youth leaders abound:

For the youth ...