DSY students perform a group interview as part of the graduation program.

Development School for Youth
The Fall-Winter 2003 graduation of the Development School for Youth was held on December 9th in Livingston. Thirty-three students celebrated the successful completion of their 14 week leadership training and development program – the largest number of students in the four-year history of the program.

On hand for the ceremony were a number of New Jersey’s businesses executives who serve as volunteer teachers in the DSY program. Several of the executives participated in a panel with young people from the DSY and shared their experiences both running and participating in the DSY’s workshops.
“This program is all about young people participating in a learning process that changes how they see themselves and their relationship to the world,” commented director Gloria Strickland. Young people have to learn about the world and how it works in order to begin to do the kinds of things that could give them a better life – for example, deciding to go to school or where or even how to go to school. Our business supporters, who are already in that world of success, are in a position to ‘let young people in’ and teach them – experientially. They are great teachers for our young people.”

Next up for the DSY graduates is their summer internship, which will begin in July. The program expects to place more than 60 young people in professional jobs provided by the program’s corporate partners. Many of last year’s sponsors have already renewed their participation, and Strickland is working with a committee of top supporters to complete the sponsorship roster.

For information about how you or your company can participate, please call Gloria Strickland (973) 242-3170 or via e-mail at gstrickland@allstars.org.