Youth Leadership Academy

Program Overview

Global Exchange Program

Program Overview

The ILF supports AAPI high school students through organizing weekly trainings during the summer to promote AAPI interests and success in public service careers and provide education on policy issues affecting the AAPI community. Each year, the advisory boards and committees host local businesses and leadership training programs for high school students to become effective and influential leaders in and outside the community. ILF organizes a training program called the Youth Leadership Academy Workshop that utilizes a multi-pronged approach to provide leadership training. Prestigious AAPI high school students from across the country come to expand their horizons, build a network of people, and become more creative and competitive. They also gain access to extracurricular activities and college mentorship

APPLY HERE

2024 Timeline

Orientation (virtual): June 1, Saturday

Kick-off (virtual): July 13, Saturday

YLA 2024 Intensive Seminar (virtual): July 15-19, Monday to Friday (approx. 2PM-5PM ET daily)

ILF 2024 Leadership & Business Conference/Gala (Capital Hilton, Washiongton D.C., optional): July 25, Thursday
Closing Ceremony (Virtual): July 29, Monday

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at ilf@ileader.org.

Eligibility

Demonstrated community service involvement and leadership
Current high school student (Rising High School Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors)
3.0 GPA and higher

APPLY HERE

Fee

Cost: $500 to participate. This cost includes any entrance fees and other programming fees for the summer. Scholarships are available based on financial need. Please review the scholarship section of the application.

*The 2025 application will be available in March 2025.

Testimonials

Meagan Lee
My experience in the 2021 Youth Leadership Academy fostered my professional interests and encouraged me to pursue civic engagement. It allowed me to learn that civic engagement takes service, knowledge, teamwork, and a desire to make a change in our respective communities. As a result of acquiring valuable leadership skills, I have applied them to my internship under the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, working in the Tours and Government Education Division and as a Policy Intern under Massachusetts State Representative Adam Scanlon. Aside from these experiences, ILF has allowed me to meet the pioneers of our nation and economy. ILF cultivated my love of public service and will continue to change the lives of aspiring world leaders as it changed mine.

Hudson Yang
To me, the experience I had with YLA is definitely one of the most impactful I’ve had in my life. I heard from so many wise and intelligent people, and learned so much about developing an entrepreneurial mindset and leadership. What I learned while participating in the YLA program will forever change how I view failure, success, and taking charge. By the time the program was over, I felt more motivated than I had ever felt before. So, to any kid who’s maybe on the fence about it, do it. It’s worth it.

Ashley Lo
Being a member of the 2022 ILF Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) led me to realize not only the need for more Asian-American representation in our government but also the importance of becoming community-oriented and socially responsible. I would have never imagined the opportunity to learn what it means to be a leader (and how to be one) from listening to such esteemed individuals speak to our class of ‘22. I was then able to embark on my own summer impact project in which I chose to research and work on the West Coast’s affordable housing crisis as an intern at the Henry George School of Social Science. I have continued to work hard and have kept the lessons learned from the YLA close as I pursue my goals. I am extremely grateful to the ILF for a new outlook and the avenues of opportunities that it has led me to.