Students in the Indianapolis Youth Leadership Academy, which ran June 5 to 9, took classes in conflict management, ethical decision making, social and news media, the belief system, mentorship, individuals’ role in society and government, among others.
Submitted photo
Heading into her senior year with a position in student government, she knew she needed leadership skills to be successful.
Laura Starr, who recently finished her junior year at Center Grove High School, was elected officer for student government during the spring semester. As an officer, she’ll be in charge of leadership development, making her participation in the Indianapolis Youth Leadership Academy all the more important, she said.
The weeklong academy ran from June 5 to 9, and some of its classes included conflict management, ethical decision-making, social and news media, belief system, mentorship, individuals’ role in society and government and the DiSC, a leadership personality assessment, according to the academy’s website.
“I had no idea what to expect at first coming here. I learned so much about myself and how to be a leader to people instead of falling behind and following what other people are doing,” Starr said. “I think the DiSC assessment has been so inspiring. It taught me so much about myself and why I see things the way I do and how I can use that to better myself and the people around me.”
With the DiSC test, students can find out if they have a directing, influencing, supportive or conscientious leadership type, she said.
“I’m a supportive-type person. I tend to avoid conflict and I like to smooth out any problems I come across,” Starr said. “This explained to me how to talk to other personality types and handle different personalities.”
The academy hosted 16 students from central Indiana schools, including Center Grove High School, Ben Davis High School, Roncalli High School and Lawrence North High School, among other schools. The program, which included 45 hours of instruction, is funded by donations and came at no cost to students and their families, according to the academy’s website.
Janssen Kinder-Crouse, who is going into her junior year at Lawrence North High School, said she learned about the importance of valuing the input of people around her. Those lessons will help her lead her volleyball team, she said.
“I want to be able to lead my team in a positive way. I have learned that other people’s opinions have as much value as yours and you might have to lead based on other personalities and listen to what other people have to say,” Kinder-Crouse said. “One simple act of kindness can change someone’s life forever and I think I can apply that to doing something kind for someone every day and not making assumptions when I meet people for the first time.”
The academy started six years ago, and was modeled after the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Leadership Academy, said Don Bender, the program’s executive director.
Students were able to apply on the academy’s website. Other students were recommended by their guidance counselors, Bender said.
Along with leadership instruction, the academy welcomed guest speakers who had turned their lives around, such as Rameil Pitamber, who was arrested as a 17-year-old and convicted of armed robbery.
“Brian Nugent was the detective who locked him up, and after (Pitamber) got out of prison, they started talking. Rameil knew he needed a mentor and they would check in on each other. If Raimell needed to talk, Brian would call him,” Bender said. “Rameil had turned his life completely around and was there to give support to the students.”
Students also heard from former Lawrence Police Chief Dave Hofmann, who gave a talk about leadership and Jack Osborne, who talked about his experience leading the FBI in Indianapolis as a supervisory agent before directing security for the National Football League, he said.
“These students come away with a basic understanding of leadership,” Bender said. “We have a lot of management in schools but we don’t have a leadership school. Management does things right by the book, leadership does the right thing. It takes into consideration the personality, the situation and you’re much more able to adjust to varying situations. That’s the reason leadership instruction is important.”
Retired Southport police officer Joe Jacobs taught students about the dangers of abusing narcotics.
“As a police officer, I saw so many (overdoses),” Jacobs said. “I saved many lives and lost a lot as well. I have two little brothers struggling with addiction. One has been clean for years and the other is strung out. Drugs are a big part of the southside of Indianapolis. The most important thing is never trying it, understanding what a drug is and how it can destroy your life and the lives around you as well.”
With the academy, however, students can learn the pitfalls to avoid as they enter adulthood and lead their peers, he said.
“The academy is such an important part of any kid’s life,” Jacobs said. “I put my oldest son through it, and I think he came out a better man and a better leader. My youngest son finished the academy and he talked about how he’s learned to respect teachers and how to be a leader in any situation, but particularly tense situations.”
