BACK

Youth & Teen Leadership

Helping Youth Take The Lead

The Y offers multiple leadership programs in safe, welcoming environments throughout the city and Chicagoland area. By providing young adults the opportunity to learn and grow, we create healthier, stronger communities!

Enhance Skills. Build Confidence. Improve Performance.

Whether it’s preparing our youth to become the leaders of tomorrow or simply helping them learn a new skill, improve academic performance, or connect with their peers,, the Y has dedicated resources to help teens grow into a better version of themselves!
  • Leaders Club

    Leaders Club

    Leaders Club is a teen-led group that meets regularly to make the community and the world a better place. With guidance and support from an adult advisor, teens choose their projects based on the interests and passions of the group. Leaders Club shows young people that they can make a difference and helps their voices be heard!
  • Teens talking together

    Mentoring & Tutoring

    The YMCA of Metro Chicago provides teens with adult mentors and homework helpers in order to improve academic performance and school attendance. These adult role models provide teens with a resource for learning, both academically and socially, as they are encouraged to apply themselves and reach their full, amazing potentials.
  • Teen Advisory Council

    Teen Advisory Council

    The Teen Advisory Council is a youth-led governance body with the mission to promote and improve teen programming throughout the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. The Council ensures that the Y receives feedback, providing a true leadership experience for our youth and amplifying their voices. With a focus on youth empowerment, the Council presents opportunities to build skills in strategic planning and community engagement.

College Readiness

The Y is committed to equipping teens with the resources to achieve their highest potential and with the skills to be community role models and to forge their pathway to success. The College Readiness program covers an array of executive-functioning strategies to prepare current students in grades 7-12 for the expectations of higher learning and beyond. 

Learn More

  • We’d love to hear from you! You can contact our Teen Programs Manager, Chiamaka Onuoha, via email ([email protected]).