Youth Complete Summer Leadership Institute; Free Fall Registration Available Now

July 22, 2016

For More Information Contact

  • Tameka Womack
    Youth Health Equity Leadership Institute program manager
    804-205-4531

This summer, Danville YHELI participants engaged with community leaders, experts, mentors, instructors and fellow students to develop critical thinking and leadership skills, and become empowered to tackle tough topics such as bullying, teen health, self-esteem, career planning and more. These skills will help students succeed in high school, and prepare for career and life goals.

Students also created a community leadership photo project showcasing their thoughts on education, as well as the challenges facing young people and strategies for successfully overcoming them. The themes for this project included empowerment, health, fighting, freedom, fatherhood, equity and opportunity. Danville YHELI students will present their project photos at an upcoming meeting of State Health Commissioner Dr. Marissa Levine’s Advisory Council on Health Disparities and Health Equity.

“It’s really a good program,” one participant noted. “It helps with your self-esteem, your confidence, your leadership skills. Before I came here, I would get into trouble. But when I came here it made me a better person. It helps kids when they get ready to go to college or high school. It shows them no matter how life is, you still have to push forward to what you want in life, push forward to your goals.”

“YHELI changes lives for the positive, for participants, their friends, families and communities,” said Program Manager Tameka Womack.

“The program is designed to include parental and community involvement and the schedule enables students to receive long-term benefits and improvements and to track their progress through all four years of high school,” added Program Manager Augustine Doe. “Space is limited, but still available. We look forward to what YHELI can do for you!” he said.

Danville YHELI is provided by the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity in partnership with Danville Public Schools, to address health initiatives and indicators identified in Healthy People 2020, and is supported by grant funding from the U.S. Office of Minority Health. The city of Richmond piloted a YHELI program in 2013 with a focus on health equity for middle and high school students in the city’s East End and has experienced years of successful outcomes.

To register or find out more, contact Tameka Womack at 804-205-4531 or Tameka.Womack@vdh.virginia.gov, or Augustine Doe at 804-864-7426 or Augustine.Doe@vdh.virginia.gov.


 

Robert Parker
Public Information Officer, Western Region, VDH
robert.parker@vdh.virginia.gov
540-580-2960

c/o New River Health District
210  S. Pepper St., Ste. A
Christiansburg, VA 24073