Youth Leading Change in Their Communities

August 5, 2025

We are excited to partner with Empowering Families to support their Youth Leadership Program. This program helps young people grow their leadership skills and make a difference in their communities. It focuses on youth from the Nebraska Panhandle and gives them tools to lead, speak up, and help solve problems they care about.

What Is the Empowering Families Youth Leadership Program?

The Youth Leadership Program gives youth and their families a chance to work with community leaders and organizations. Together, they learn how to identify problems and opportunities in their towns, come up with ideas to help, and create a plan for real change. Through this hands-on learning, youth build confidence and learn how to become strong leaders.

How We’re Helping

This year, Dr. Maya Chilese and Sara Wilcox with the Snow-Redfern Foundation will lead a special workshop for the Program. They will teach youth how to:

  • Understand what their communities need

  • Learn about participatory grantmaking (where youth help decide how money is used for good)

  • Create project proposals that solve real problems

After the workshop, the youth will work together to come up with three project ideas. These ideas will be shared at the Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference on September 24, 2025. Other youth at the conference will hear the presentations and vote on which project(s) should get funded.

Why It Matters

We believe that young people are not just the future — they are leaders right now. When youth have a chance to share their ideas and take action, amazing things can happen. This partnership is one way we support youth-led change and make sure their voices are heard.

By working with Empowering Families and the Youth Leadership Academy, we are helping youth build a better future — not only for themselves but for all of us.

About Snow-Redfern Foundation
The Snow-Redfern Foundation believes that all young people deserve the chance to grow, lead, and thrive. We work across Nebraska to support youth through partnerships, grantmaking, and programs that lift up youth voice, community wisdom, and shared leadership. By building strong relationships and investing in youth-led change, we help create a better future for everyone.

To learn more or make a donation, visit www.snowredfern.org.