Young Women LEAD

Teen LEADership Summit Hosted at Northern Kentucky University
2025-11-06 08:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Northern Kentucky University, 20 Kenton Drive, Highland Heights, KY, 41099, United States
High school students are invited to attend
Teen LEADership Summit
Thursday, November 6, 2025

This year’s steering committee invites high school students to attend the Teen LEADership Summit at Northern Kentucky University’s James C. and Rachel M. Votruba Student Union on Thursday, November 6. The summit will focus on Leadership, Education, And Development and features interactive keynotes, community and business leaders, and a college resource and career fair. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the Summit is FREE to all participants.
This year’s Summit theme is LEAD Unlocked – “unlock” your leadership superpowers – break through fear, discover what makes you unique, and be ready to lead yourself. This year’s summit challenges you to turn the key on your potential, open doors to new opportunities, and step boldly into leadership—no title required. Leadership isn’t about being in charge; it’s about making a positive impact, inspiring others, and leading yourself first.

Registration: Registration is now closed.

Registration is limited to the first 400 students and is first-come, first-served and will close once we reach capacity.
Attendees should register themselves as the registration includes questions regarding students’ goals for attending the Summit.
We encourage early registration as it is first-come, first-served and limited to the first 400 students.
Chaperones please register as well. Our staff will staff will provide registration lists to registered teachers and chaperones before the event, so you know which students from your school or organization have registered.
The cost is FREE. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors we are able to waive the $130 registration cost.
All students who attend the LEADership Summit must have a signed waiver. No one will be permitted to attend without a signed waiver.
Optional campus tours may be scheduled for those groups who are interested. Further information will be provided upon registration or can be attained by emailing info@youngwomenlead.com.
NOTE: Lunch will NOT be provided. Groups are welcome to purchase lunch through campus dining services – all services on campus are cashless and only accept credit, debit, and mobile payments. Menu options can be found here.

Location: Northern Kentucky University James C. and Rachel M. Votruba Student Union Ballroom

Agenda: The Summit will begin with registration and breakfast at 8:45 AM EST. Welcome and Opening Remarks will begin at 9:30 AM EST. The Summit will conclude at 12:30 PM

8:45 – 9:30 Registration/Breakfast featuring Rosie Red, Victor Viking & DJ Tra’Shelle
9:30 – 9:40 Welcome & Introductions with Emcee Emmy Rice
9:45 – 10:00 Norse Welcome: President Cady Short-Thompson
10:00 – 10:20 NKU Student President Collin Jarrell and Vice President Kyah Smith
10:20 – 10:55 Keynote Presenter: Hannah Edelen
10:55 – 11:10 Emcee / DJ Tra’Shelle / Group Photo
11:10 – 11:40 Closing Keynote Dr. Abdullah Al Bahrani
11:40 – 11:45 Emcee Closing
11:45 – 12:30 College Resource Fair / Campus Tours / Dismissal

Event Specific Emergency Action Plan:

The AEDs in the Student Union are located on the second floor Main Lobby near the elevators.
NKU AEDs are are accessible to all campus occupants for use in a cardiac emergency.
NKU has an emergency response team. You can visit the Safety and Emergency Management webpage to review NKUs Emergency Action Plan (EAP). This site includes all of NKU’s plans for the variety of emergencies that may occur.
For any emergency, please contact 911. University Police and the Fire Department will be dispatched to respond.

Questions: Email info@youngwomenlead.com with any questions.

YWL Indiana Hosted at Vincennes University Jasper Campus
2026-03-11 | Jasper Community Arts, 951 College Avenue, Jasper, IN, 47546, United States
High school girls from southern Indiana are invited to attend

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

https://youngwomenlead.com/wp-content/uploads/YWL-Jasper-2027-Video.mp4

This year’s YWL steering committee invites high school girls to Find Your Way at this year’s conference, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The YWL Indiana conference is for high school girls and focuses on Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD). The conference features interactive keynotes, interactive breakout sessions, community and business leaders, and more. The conference is FREE to all participants. YWL teaches important future-ready skills needed to be successful in the workforce and ways to develop confidence and leadership potential.
This year’s conference features keynote presenter Dr. Julia Garcia. As a Doctor of Psychology, TEDx speaker, and author of The Five Habits of Hope (HarperCollins, 2025), Dr. Julia blends science and story to help students and staff feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow. She’s led interactive experiences for hundreds of schools, universities, and organizations, using spoken word, real talk, and research-backed tools to shift campus culture and spark emotional breakthroughs. Her sessions aren’t lectures. They are experiences—trauma-informed, highly engaging, and rooted in belonging. Whether she’s speaking to high school students, educators, or college leaders, Dr. Julia meets people where they are and helps them move forward, together.
Registration: Registration is now closed. All students who attend the conference must have a signed waiver.
Agenda:

9:00 – 9:30 Registration and Photos
9:30 – 9:35 Welcome
9:35 – 9:45 Emcee Welcome
9:45 – 10:30 Keynote Speaker – Dr. Julia Garcia
10:40 – 11:15 Breakout Session #1
11:25 – 12:00 Lunch Group #1 / Breakout Session #2
12:10 – 12:45 Lunch Group #2 / Breakout Session #2
1:00 – 1:35 Panel
1:35 – 1:55 Keynote Speaker – Sue Ellspermann
1:55 – 2:00 Closing Remarks and Dismissal

Breakout Sessions: Each attendee will select two of the following breakout session topics:

Mapping Your Next Move – Self Defense
Unlock Your Inner Compass – Yoga/Pilates
Success GPS – Tips for Academic Success
Navigate with Heart – Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Building
Chart Your Course – Preparing for College

If you are interested in sponsoring this year’s conference, email us at kimberly@youngwomenlead.com.

YWL Illinois Hosted at Lincoln Trail College
2026-03-12 | Lincoln Trail College, 11220 State Highway 1, Robinson, IL, 62454, United States
Sophomores and Juniors Are Invited to Attend This Year’s
Young Women LEAD Illinois
Thursday, March 12, 2026

The YWL conference is for all high school sophomores and juniors (boys and girls) and focuses on Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD). The conference features interactive keynotes, interactive breakout sessions, community and business leaders, and more. The conference is FREE to all participants.
YWL teaches future-ready skills needed to be successful in the workforce and ways to develop confidence and unlock your leadership potential. Our steering committee is excited to welcome 200 teens to Lincoln Trail College for a day of inspiration, leadership, and future-ready experiences.

Location: Lincoln Trail College
Who: Central Illinois Sophomores and Juniors (boys and girls) who currently attend one of the following high schools:

Casey High School
Hutsonville High School
Lawrenceville High School
Marshall High School
Martinsville High School
Newton Community High School
Oblong High School
Olney High School
Palestine High School
Red Hill High School
Robinson High School
Sullivan High School (Indiana)

Registration:

Registration is now closed.

This flyer provides detailed descriptions of each of the breakout sessions. Each student may select two of the breakout sessions.
Please contact kimberly@youngwomenlead.com if you have any questions.

Registration is first-come, first-served and limited. We encourage students to register themselves individually so they may select their breakout session choices.
Chaperones please register as well. We will use your registration contact information to communicate with you regarding the schedule and student rosters.
Lunch will be provided and the cost is FREE.
All attendees must have a Signed Waiver Form to attend the event. No one will be permitted to attend the event without a signed waiver.

Schedule:
8:30 – 8:55 Arrival
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:15 – 10:15 Keynote Presentation with Dr. Julia Garcia
10:20 – 11:00 Breakout Session
11:05 – 11:50 Breakout Session / Lunch
11:55 – 12:40 Lunch / Breakout Session
12:45 – 1:25 Breakout Session
1:30 – 1:45 Closing Session
1:45 Dismissal
Breakout Sessions: Each student will select two of the following breakout session topics:

Beautiful Minds, Dangerous Distractions: Your brain is still under construction—and what you choose now really matters. In this session, you’ll learn how drugs and alcohol can affect your brain and interfere with how it grows, thinks, and makes decisions. You’ll see why saying “no” is actually a smart way to protect your future. Together, you’ll work to build a stronger, healthier, and more powerful brain.
Clear Communication, Safer Care: A Hands-On Look at Healthcare Teamwork: Hear from healthcare professionals who work together as a team—and learn why every role matters. You’ll discover how strong communication helps teams work better, prevents mistakes, and improves patient care. You’ll see how even small communication gaps can have a big impact, and why speaking up and working together makes all the difference.
Design Your Life: Vision Boarding, Goals, and Time Hacks for Teen Leaders: What if you could design your future instead of just dreaming about it? You will create a vision board that reflects who you are and who you want to become. Learn simple tools real leaders use—goal setting, habit building, and smart time planning—to turn big dreams into doable steps. Leave with a clear plan, more focus, and the confidence to start moving forward. Your future isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build.
Managing Your Organization: Organizational management is a critical piece of operating a business. From the leadership staff to entry level positions, it’s important to have the right people in the right roles. Sarah Weiler discusses how to make those determinations and how they evolve as a business grows.
Power of Positivity: Do you ever doubt yourself or catch that inner voice saying mean, judgmental or unfairly harsh things? We all have an inner critic – sometimes it pushes us to do better, but when it goes unchecked, that sneaky voice can do more harm than good and really bring us down. In this session we’ll dive into the science of self-talk, learn to recognize and replace negative thinking patterns, and discover practical ways to remind yourself of your strength each day. Let’s quiet that critic and help you step into becoming your own strongest supporter!
Self Defense: Build confidence, awareness, and personal safety. Learn basic self-defense strategies, how to recognize unsafe situations, and ways to protect yourself using your voice, body, and instincts. Gain skills that help you feel stronger, more aware, and more in control. This session is about trusting yourself, setting boundaries, and knowing you have options.
Sensational STEM: Get ready to experience STEM in a whole new way! Dive into hands-on activities that use your senses to explore science, technology, engineering, and math. Experiment, problem-solve, and work with others to see how STEM shows up in real life—and how it connects to creativity and innovation. Whether you love STEM or are just curious, this session will challenge you to think differently, try new things, and discover how fun and exciting STEM can be.
The Ultimate Glow Up: Your Online Edge to Get Noticed by Dream Colleges, Jobs, and Opportunities. Today, your online presence is your first impression, and it can open doors long before you ever walk into a room. Learn how to create a powerful digital footprint that stands out to colleges, employers, scholarship committees, and more. Break down what makes a profile memorable, how to highlight your strengths and passions, and what not to post when opportunities are on the line. Complete a mini “online glow-up audit,” craft a standout bio, and walk away with practical steps you can implement immediately to build confidence and attract real opportunities.
Tale of Two Companies: Ever wondered what it’s really like to start your own business? In this high-energy session, a trailblazing entrepreneur Penny Shaw takes you behind the scenes of building not one, but TWO companies! Hear the real stories—big wins, epic fails, and everything in between. You’ll discover how creativity, grit, and bold choices can turn ideas into reality. Come ready to ask questions and get inspired. As Penny says, dream it, do it!
Two Cents: Finance with Tasha: Money doesn’t have to be confusing—or boring. In this interactive session, Tasha breaks down real-life money basics in a way that actually makes sense. Learn how to budget, save, and make smart choices with your money now and in the future. Gain confidence to manage your money and understand why every “two cents” decision can add up to something big.
Who Am I?: Explore your strengths, values, and what makes you you—no pressure, no right answers. You’ll leave with fresh insights, more confidence, and a clearer sense of how your identity connects to leadership, learning and your future goals.
Yoga with Rendi: Take a break, breathe, and reset. In this session, Rendi will guide you through simple yoga movements and breathing exercises designed to help you relax, stretch, and refocus. No experience needed—just show up as you are. You’ll leave feeling calmer, more grounded, and re-energized, with tools you can use anytime you need to slow down and take care of yourself.

If you are interested in sponsoring this year’s conference, visit https://youngwomenlead.com/donate-form/
or email us at kimberly@youngwomenlead.com. External Link. Opens in new window..

Flying Pig Marathon with LEAD
2026-05-01 08:00 - 2026-05-04 17:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | IL
Run for Leadership. Run for Change. Run for YWL at this year’s Flying Pig Marathon. External Link. Opens in new window., May 1-3, 2026

Lace up. Show up. And let’s pave the way for a generation of strong, confident teens who lead with courage, compassion, and purpose.
When you run for LEAD, you’re running for a brighter, bolder future—one where every teen learns to LEAD themselves and make a difference in their schools and communities. For 16 years, LEAD has been the nation’s trusted leader in life-changing leadership programs for high school students. Through 73 conferences, we’ve empowered 48,600 students from 321 schools across Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and beyond—and the movement keeps growing!
Every stride, every step, and every dollar raised fuels opportunities for teens to discover their strengths, find their voice, and unlock their leadership potential.
Run. Give. Lead. Together, we’re building the next generation of leaders.
Join us at this year’s Flying Pig Marathon—because when teens learn to lead themselves, they’re ready to change the world. Register or donate here. External Link. Opens in new window.. Be sure to select Young Women LEAD as your charity.
Don’t want to run/walk in person – there is also a virtual option or you can support our mission by making a donation here.
