Ivory Gwin, DTM has a passion for the Youth Leadership Program. Ivory devotes his time to empowering underserved youth in Chicago.
Ivory believes that If every child can see their own potential and find a way to effectively communicate what they want to do, they’ll have opportunities to achieve their goals. In fact, he’s experienced this first hand. He was the first of his family to attend and finish college, then went on to have a corporate career.
Ivory Gwin, has worked with many companies, organizations and schools participating in the Youth Leadership Program. Here are several to mention:
- Dream Academy Foundation- Dreamers- around the United States (BCBS Toastmasters):Young Dreamers 13 yrs to 18 yrs
- MAPS Corps- Chicago City Colleges (a summer camp for high school students)
- CTA- Youth Leadership- Summer Intern Program
- Morton College
- 5. Whitney Young High School
About the Program
The Youth Leadership Program is a workshop consisting of eight one- to two-hour sessions that enable young people under the age of 18 to develop their communication and leadership skills through practical experience. The program is presented during or after school, or on weekends. In the workshop, young people learn valuable skills including:
- Evaluating their own speaking ability
- Preparing and giving speeches
- Giving impromptu talks
- Controlling their voice, vocabulary and gestures
- Giving constructive feedback and more
How the Program Works
Participants in the Youth Leadership Program are selected by a sponsoring Toastmasters club or by a cooperating organization (such as a school). The workshops are structured for small group learning and are limited to 25 students. They are presented by a coordinator who attends each meeting. Meetings generally follow a format similar to that of a Toastmasters club meeting, with an announced agenda that includes practice in parliamentary procedure, prepared and impromptu speeches and the selection of presiding officers.