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African American Youth Leadership Program: Preparing tomorrow's leaders today

Every year at this time, high school students across California are busy readjusting to school after winter break. But hundreds of juniors and seniors are also starting the application process to be among the 50 California students selected for the African American Youth Leadership Program (AAYLP), a week-long conference in Sacramento that provides leadership training and personal development.

The goal of AAYLP is to provide tomorrow’s leaders the tools they’ll need to succeed in education, business and government. “The point here is to bring kids together and show them that there are other kids like them who study hard, work hard, who are going to college, are on a track to succeed, and whom we expect will be future leaders in our state,” says Tommy Ross, president and chair of the Research and Policy Institute of California (RPIC), the non-profit group that has organized the program for the past two years.

“We are thankful for companies like Sempra Energy because they see the need for programs like this,” says Michael Gunning, RPIC’s secretary and treasurer. “Sempra Energy’s sponsorship of this program is critical to developing African American leaders and future leaders of California.”

Students must have good grades, be recommended by a school teacher or administrator, and write three essays to be accepted into the program. Once in the program, they develop academic and career plans, run political campaigns and participate in the legislative process. This training culminates in a mock presentation and debate of proposed bills in the California Assembly chambers.

“That one event impacts their lives forever,” says Gunning. “It gives them the sense that, ‘Wow, I really can be here.’”

More about AAYLP and RPIC
The mission of RPIC is to bridge the gap between the African American community and access to resources that are essential to their economic, social, and educational progress. The group is currently working to expand the AAYLP division to include a program to introduce eighth graders to local policy makers; fellowships and internships for college students who have completed the conference; and a mentor network linking conference graduates with leaders in government, business, media and the community.

Visit RPIC for more information on AAYLP, including a video highlighting the annual conference.