YOUTH-LED DIRECTORY
What is the Youth-Led Directory ?
The Youth Led Directory is a page that helps you find youth-led organizations in Columbus, Ohio. It lists groups and projects run by young people, offering ways to get involved and make a difference. Whether you’re interested in social justice, the environment, education, or community work, the directory makes it easy to discover opportunities that match your passions. It’s a simple way to connect with other youth leaders and the great work they’re doing to improve their communities.
Youth-Led Directory!
Arkbuilders - West Side Leadership Academy
The Arkbuilders and Glenwood Recreation Center incorporates high school youth 14-18 years of age. The youth attend over eight area High Schools: Briggs High School and West High and community schools. The teens live on the west side of Columbus and experience gun violence, substance use, poverty, and challenging schools, yet they choose to come to the center and find creative ways to help themselves and others. Some of the youth participate in the summer program. Others will come from sports teams.
Glenwood Teen Leadership Youth-led project helps develop leadership skills, strategic thinking and setting and accomplishing goals and objectives, project development, and working together in a team setting. In addition, Glenwood’s youth and young adults will collectively engage in the strategic planning process to implement prevention strategies to support mental health and wellness.
Contact: [email protected]
Address: 1888 Fairmont Ave Columbus, OH 43223
Bantu Hope Foundation - Teens At Work
The Bantu Hope Foundation Teens at Work Program is an initiative designed to positively impact Somali Bantu youth aged 14-18, serving students in Franklin County. By actively participating in the program, these teens become role models for younger children in the community. Through their engagement in substance use prevention and community volunteerism.
The program places a strong emphasis on community violence reduction, striving to create a safer environment that is conducive to the learning and development of children. By addressing and mitigating issues related to community violence, the program actively promotes a setting where personal success can flourish.
Contact: [email protected]
Address: 3438 W Broad St Columbus, OH 43204
Barrack Recreation Center - South Side Community Collaborative Teen Leadership Academy
South Side Community Collaborative (SSCC) Teen leadership Academy (TLA), created in 2013, is a community-based group operating at Barack Community Recreation Center, on Columbus’s south side. The SCC was the outgrowth of community conversation, conducted by Franklin County National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Columbus Recreation and Parks, Columbus Public Health Department, Maryhaven Gambling Intervention Program, Nationwide Children Hospital, and community residents.
The conversation showed there to be four pressing needs, that if alleviated would strengthen the community and reduce violence. These are:
Youth employment
Access to mental health services
Getting outside of the neighborhood
Community service
In efforts to continue to address the needs identified in the community conversation, the Teen Leadership Academy developed a youth led prevention program focused on mental health promotion. This program was led by the youth with the support of adult allies and incorporated positive youth development and youth empowerment practices. The presentation consisted of a PowerPoint that was created by the teens and delivered by the teens. This presentation included information on mental health promotion, stigma, risk and protective factors.
The project was intended to increase the awareness of the importance of mental health in south side High School students. To accomplish this, the team developed a presentation for local high school’s students that focused on recognizing good mental health and ways to enhance it. The second goal was for students to increase their involvement in the SSCC Teen Leadership Academy. This was accomplished by recruiting 42 students who became involved in the Teen Leadership Academy.
Address: 580 East Woodrow Ave
