The Mission of the Young Leaders Council is to train diverse, committed individuals to effectively participate on the boards of nonprofit organizations and make a difference in the community by replenishing the volunteer leadership base.

The Young Leaders Council (YLC) is a program founded by the Council of Community Services, in conjunction with the Frist Foundation (formerly the HCA Foundation) and the United Way. It was created in 1985 to address the need to broaden and strengthen Nashville's volunteer leadership base.

The YLC consists of a ten-session training program, addressing fundamental board skills. These interactive sessions reflect on such leadership indicators as collaboration, diversity and the role of catalyst deemed crucial for today's nonprofit leadership roles. The training is followed by a year internship with a community agency. At this time, the YLC participant serves as a non-voting member of a working board.

Participants are between 25 and 39 years of age and come from a broad range of corporate, civic and volunteer backgrounds. They may be nominated by YLC alumni, their group's management or may be self-nominated with management's recommendation.

A YLC alumni group makes activities available to those who wish to continue their involvement.

COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE SUPPORT
Much of the success of the Young Leaders Council has been due to the active participation of community business leaders and agency directors. They have most willingly given of their time and expertise in the training of Young Leaders. The corporate business leaders provide valuable insight into such topics as legal liabilities; corporate giving; what to look for in a board; and how the social service system works. Thus, a balanced, objective picture of community volunteer leadership is presented to the Young Leaders.

2008 Young Leaders Council Board of Directors

Mike Hill , Trusco Capital Management - Chair

Brian Taylor , Prudential Woodmont Realty - Chair-Elect

Bama Estes Wood -QHR - Secretary

Sean Torr- Deloitte&Touche,LLP- Treasurer

Marissa Bencha- Center for Nonprofit Management

Jonathan Cole - Baker Donelson Bearman & Caldwell
Patrick Conger -UBS Financial Services, Inc.
James Crumlin, Jr. - Bone, McAllester & Norton
Christy DiNapoli - The Music Group

Adrian Granderson- 100 Black Men of Tennessee

Bob Grimes - Turner-Universal Construction Co.
Everton Heron - E.M.G
Michael Hollis- eMids

Technologies
Paula Roberts - TN Small Business Development Center

Michelle Steele - Director 311- Customer Call Center
Lolita Toney - Ivy Recruiting and Consulting

Melissa Wyatt - Event Planner