EmPowerU e2 high school leadership program kickoff

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- EmPowerU e2 Fellowship high school intergenerational leadership program began on Tuesday morning. 

Over 15 schools in the region are participating in the program, which consists of teams of three, featuring two high school students and one adult sponsor, in the Foundation’s 31-county service region.

This program will let students decide what leadership means to them and identify the key values they'll use in leadership. It's also designed to deepen the commitment to education and develop the skills necessary for creating healthy and thriving communities.

Devin Brower, director of program operations for Mosaic Life Care Foundation and EmPowerU said having intergenerational teams in the program makes it more powerful.

“So you team the adults with the youth because you can really effect change. And we hope they go back and they change things. They identify things that need their help and their attention and they do those things,” he said.

The program will consist of four sessions over the course of a few months. During the kickoff session, students did different activities, introducing themselves, talking about their schools and their communities.

Brower said he hopes the students in the leadership program can make a difference in their schools and the community.

“I just really hope they'll go back to their community and school and take a fresh look and say, 'What could we improve and how can we help other people here?'” he said.

Brower also said he hopes students leave with confidence.

“They're all incredibly talented,  but sometimes I don't think they give themselves enough credit.  So I hope by being around their peers and doing some of these fun activities that it really just boosts them to realize when they leave here, I can do this,” he said.