Dare to Lead
Dare to Lead is an empowering program that nurtures the leadership potential within our youth by providing a platform for them to take charge and make a meaningful impact in their communities. This initiative focuses on cultivating leadership skills through hands-on experiences in community service and engagement. Young leaders are not just participants but architects of positive change, as they design and implement projects that address local needs and foster a sense of unity. Through mentorship, skill-building workshops, and collaborative activities, our program encourages a culture where youth not only dare to lead but also inspire their peers to join in, creating a ripple effect of enthusiasm and civic responsibility. Together, these emerging leaders are shaping a future where the energy, passion, and innovation of youth become catalysts for transformative community development.
Components of the Program
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Fundraising Development
Project Review and Evaluation
Participants are trained on effective fundraising techniques, grass roots efforts, branding, leveraging online platforms, and building relationships with potential donors.
Youth Mentorship Program
Participants are paired with mentors with expertise in program development, management, and fundraising, with specific guidance on grant writing and engaging local businesses and sponsors.
Participants engage in structured reviews to evaluate the outcomes of their projects, focusing on challenges faced, lessons learned, and the overall impact on the community.
Youth Leadership Training
Youth participants engage in interactive workshops led by peers and adult leaders, focusing on leadership fundamentals, communication skills, and project management.
Project Sustainability Planning
Participants learn how to integrate sustainability planning, focusing on financial continuity, and develop plans to secure ongoing funding or create revenue-generating models for sustained impact.
Hands-on Implementation
Participants take the lead in implementing their projects, incorporating fundraising activities such as charity events, sponsorships, and crowdfunding campaigns to support their initiatives.
Project Design and Planning
Participants design community projects focusing on setting achievable goals, creating action plans, developing fundraising plans and considering the long-term impact of their initiatives.
Community Needs Assessment
Participants learn how to conduct a thorough needs assessment within their communities, developing an understanding of program funding and implementation feasibility.
Ultimately, we aim to build the Dare to Lead program into a flexible and inclusive training model that youth participants can engage at any time, featuring open access learning modules targeted to the youth audience and a resource hub with materials on needs assessment, project design, and fundraising where participants can access guides, videos, and templates whenever they need support.
KIDS Community's first cohort of youth changemakers who have taken on the "DARE TO LEAD" demonstrated huge impact! Members of the KIDS COMMUNITY YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD participated in the American Heart Association Teen of Impact Challenge, raising money for heart health awareness and learning how to plan and execute a heart health awareness and fundraising campaign. The AHA Teen of Impact program is a national competition between local teams earning points through execution of heart health awareness activities and fundraising in their community. The KIDS Community team was the highest point and fundraising team in the Triangle!
