Youth Leadership Forum Becomes Youth Leadership Birmingham
Raise your hand if you already knew that Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is part of the Leadership Birmingham family. If you didn’t, you aren’t alone. YLF was created for high school students by Leadership Birmingham members and has shared a similar mission and format for nearly 40 years, yet few people in the region connect the two programs, says Katherine Berdy, YLF’s director. Even some YLF members aren’t aware of the link.
That could change now that YLF has taken on a new name: Youth Leadership Birmingham. The updated moniker builds upon the well-known, highly respected Leadership Birmingham brand while also emphasizing the focus of the youth program. “Birmingham is our canvas for learning,” Berdy says. “We learn a lot about the community, and it’s the conduit through which we explore leadership styles, leadership opportunities, and even leadership mistakes.”
Opening eyes, opening doors
Youth Leadership Birmingham (YLB) is one of the boldest ideas ever to emerge from a Leadership Birmingham study group, and it happened during the flagship program’s first year. Since then YLB has introduced more than 1,400 high school students to people, communities, and organizations throughout the metropolitan area—and has shown them what is required to help the region thrive. Their journey of discovery has taken them to courtrooms, homeless shelters, business incubators, and more. And in doing so, YLB has knocked down more than a few preconceived notions and inspired students to work together to create positive change.
Berdy emphasizes that the YLB format and experience will remain the same under the new name. Each class will continue to include a diverse group of sophomores and juniors from public, private, parochial, charter, and home schools throughout Jefferson County. The Class of 2024, for example, featured 47 students representing 26 schools. However, Berdy hopes that the program’s new name will encourage Leadership Birmingham members to get more involved with YLB, perhaps by volunteering on program days or ensuring that YLB remains accessible for all participants. Leadership Birmingham alumni also can play an important role by nominating students for each year’s class. Supporting YLB is a way for alumni to share the value and excitement of their Leadership Birmingham experience with a rising generation of leaders “who are interested in civic engagement, want to learn about our wonderful city, and are striving to make a difference,” Berdy says.
Lifelong link
One goal for YLB is to follow the pattern of Leadership Birmingham and serve as a resource for participants as they continue their leadership journeys. In particular, Berdy plans to provide YLB graduates with online programs to foster the development of leadership skills as they transition to college. “We want to encourage them to share their leadership stories with us—how they’ve been vulnerable, how they’ve been resilient, how they’ve taken risks,” Berdy says. Then, once those graduates begin their careers, Berdy plans to set up networking opportunities with fellow YLB alumni—and with Leadership Birmingham members.
Several YLB alumni have already rekindled their connections to the youth program by helping to host interviews for student finalists. “Years after they graduate, they’re thinking about the things that have impacted their success, and they reach out to us,” Berdy says. “They have been part of something extraordinary. It’s exciting to see them pay it forward.”
Volunteer for YLB Program Days/Nominate Students: Contact Katherine Berdy at katherine@leadershipbirmingham.org.
Donate: Make your tax-deductible contribution for YLB at leadershipbirmingham.org/support.
Calling All Alumni: If you are a Youth Leadership Forum graduate, we want to reconnect with you. Let us know where you are and what you are doing in your professional life. Send your updates to Katherine Berdy at katherine@leadershipbirmingham.org.
This article was originally posted in the Leadership Birmingham Winter 24/25 magazine. See the full magazine here.