Formed in January 2005, the New Moms Youth Leadership Council (NMYLC) serves as a learning laboratory for New Moms' participants who are excelling in our programs. The purpose of the Council is twofold:

1. To develop the leadership skills of the individual members.

2. To help them focus their drive to succeed in a manner that can make them the community leaders of the future and role models for young women who are facing similar issues.

The Council will be composed of up to 15 members who are current or graduate (alumnae) New Moms participants from the residential (Cooperative Living Program) and non-residential (Community Outreach) programs. Council members may serve as mentors to current program participants or speak to parent support group or parenting education groups.

A Council Advisor develops and implements all components of the NMYLC training program, which includes:

• Providing Council members exposure to a variety of formal public meeting settings
• Planning and facilitating monthly meetings that develop leadership skills
• Identifying local and regional opportunities for Council members to learn – through action – the
       networking, negotiation, advocacy, and public relations skills that accompany leadership roles
• Fostering activity/event/program planning skills by having hands-on experience in the coordination
       and implementation of the activities they are pursuing; and
• Building personal and professional networking skills