We are excited to announce the launch of NHF's inaugural National Future Leaders program (Future Leaders). Future Leaders relies on the premise that young people are the heart of any community. By ensuring multi-leveled and ongoing engagement of teenagers and young adults, we make a valuable investment in the future of the bleeding disorders community.
Future Leaders is an advocacy training program in which young adults can strengthen their leadership skills, learn how the government works and receive the keys to successful advocacy. Having been implemented for years on a local level by our California chapters, this launch is NHF's first attempt at investing in young advocates on a much larger scale. The Future Leaders training will enable participants to become effective public speakers, and to create social change through strategic interactions with elected officials. Training modules will focus on topics such as social media as an advocacy tool, and the keys to self-advocacy in the realms of healthcare and general decision-making.
An exciting aspect of being a Future Leader is the opportunity to train other young people who may also join the program one day. Further, participants get to apply their newly acquired skills almost immediately. Future Leaders will attend Washington Days and State Legislative Days, making their voices heard at both the federal and state levels.
Because Future Leaders will teach participants effective self-advocacy and help them to gain proficiency in advocating on behalf of others, the skills they learn will undoubtedly benefit them in future personal and professional endeavors.
Candidates for the Future Leaders program were recruited from NHF's National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI). A selection committee of six individuals, both within and outside NHF, carefully reviewed all applications and selected these candidates:
Travis Albright (MI)
Michelle Cecil (WI)
Benjamin Charles (WI)
Callie Clark (OH)
Sami Jankins (WI)
Alexandra Johnson (MI)
Lucas Rice (IN)
Nikole Scappe (PA)
Congratulations to our Future Leaders, all of whom already exhibit strong leadership skills, and unwavering commitment and passion for our community. We look forward to seeing these young advocates at Washington Days later this month!
NHF is grateful for the support from Bayer HealthCare to launch this exciting new program.
