Between classes, complex social lives and college preparation, high schoolers are facing pressure on all sides. A series of workshops open to them on Saturday is designed to provide them with skills and support.
The ILEAD Youth Leadership Summit, coordinated by the City of Salem Youth Development Services, is returning in-person. The summit hosts workshops and panels for high schoolers with discussions with local nonprofits, mental health experts, financial advisors and community leaders.
The event is free, and open to all high schoolers in Marion, Polk and Linn counties.
It runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Epping Homestead Branch of the Boys & Girls Club at 3805 Lancaster Dr. N.E.
Registration is online on the city of Salem’s website, with a deadline of noon on Friday, Feb. 24. Transportation from various Marion County schools to the event can be arranged with registration.
Spenser Lamphear, a senior at Abiqua Academy, joined ILEAD two years ago because he was interested in stress management.
Now, he serves on the summit’s youth committee and helps design the lessons. This year’s event offers college application tips that would have benefited him earlier in high school, he said.
“I help make decisions that can directly impact a teen’s decision to do things like pursue higher education, become leaders in their communities and just understand how to maintain mental health,” he said. “And, gosh, I can’t speak about it enough. I really enjoy it.”
This year’s workshops include personal finance, college essay help and mental health.
The “speed dating” session allows teens to meet quickly with representatives from local and regional groups, including Marion Polk Food Share, the YMCA and Safe Oregon. The groups will share about volunteer opportunities and jobs.
Mental health professionals will talk about recovering from the Covid-lockdown slumps, and tips to manage stress and feeling overwhelmed.
Leadership workshops will address personal leadership style, public speaking and speaking up in uncomfortable spaces.
Lamphear is looking forward to a question-and-answer session with Sue Corner, dean of admissions at Willamette University.
“You’ll get to ask questions directly at her which is amazing, and something that you really can’t find elsewhere in my experience,” Lamphear said.
Saturday’s summit will start with team building exercises, followed by the workshops. The day will end with some fun challenges, and – more than likely – donuts
Lamphear believes everyone will walk away from the summit feeling stronger in their abilities and inspired to achieve more.
“The opportunity is available. You just have to do it, and do it for your future,” he said.
Lauren Huber, a sophomore at West Salem High School, attended the summit virtually last year. She said the leadership discussion panel helped shape her ongoing campaign for Oregon Youth governor, part of the Oregon Alliance of YMCA’s Youth & Government program.
“Coming out of that workshop, I felt empowered to stop shying away, even in environments that made me feel like my voice mattered less,” she said.
She said the summit’s emphasis on community involvement was particularly impactful.
“ILEAD was something that made me really get involved in my school and with youth. And since then, I’ve been involved nonstop in civic and political activities,” she said. “With Youth and Government, and my campaign, I advocate for more outreach, more involvement with youth and youth in other high schools.”
Huber won’t attend this year’s conference because of the campaign which ends this weekend, but she said she recommends it.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
