Central Leaders School (CLS) is a life-changing program for young people. It provides opportunities for youth to connect with other youth without judgment. It is a place where they can connect with their peers and be open about who they are. It is a place where they find connections to others from throughout the Midwest, where they learn they are not alone in their struggles

After only a couple hours I had made countless connections with people, some of the nicest people I have ever met, this was the fastest I had opened up to such a new group of people so quickly

It lit a fire within me for service, the motto is come to learn and return to serve

I will remember my Leaders days and experiences… for the rest of my life…

My Leader experience gave me a desire to serve my community and world

I wouldn’t be who I am today without leaders. The joy I felt serving the community as a leader drew me toward nonprofits and helping others help their communities. The skills I learned while in the program still serve me today and my ability to run meetings and work with others comes directly from leaders.

20 years later, I am still using the leadership skills I began to develop at CLS