Lowell Youth Leadership Program's (LYLP) mission is to provide access and opportunity to under-served Lowell youth. Through our program we plan to provide exposure to a slate of courses and activities that are unavailable to our participants for reasons of cost or local offering. The curriculum is structured to engender a sense of empowerment and a connection to the community. Our objective is to try and lessen the effect of the participants environment as an impediment to their success. By emphasizing leadership skills and civic engagement we hope to create an environment that fosters a desire to give back to the community and creates a legacy of leadership.
Our 8 Guiding Principles
LYLP is guided by principles that nurture the whole child. We create a respectful and inclusive environment where every camper feels valued and heard. Through intentional activities and teamwork, campers are encouraged to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and recognize their own strengths. We encourage positive connections with staff, instructors, speakers and other campers, empowering young people to grow into confident, compassionate leaders both at camp and beyond.
Leadership
Lisa Ansara
Executive Director
Larry Wilson
President
Sam Hor
Vice President
Andy Lopez
Vice President
Helen Blaschke
Roeun Chan
Jim McCusker
Kah Ndi
Christina Nikitopoulos
Barb Scollan
Ed Scollan
Sochenda Uch
As someone who lived in the housing projects for 8 years after losing our apartment to a fire, I know how important it is for a positive summer experience. Before NYSP, our summers consisted of boredom and several negative activities as we found “things” to do around our neighborhood as our parents tried to make ends meet. With NYSP, I feel as if I was given a better life because I was able to attend the summer camp and get first-time experiences in many areas like new sports, new food, positive support staff, college campus, new friends and so much more. There are so many disadvantaged youth in our city that will not have access to these types of experiences and will continue to be engulfed in a negative view of our city. Therefore, I want to help provide a break in that cycle and provide opportunities to our youth of Lowell so they can reach their potential and create a new more positive normal for their lives. I believe with the work being done with LYLP, we will be able to start on this journey to achieve this goal and create a positive legacy of leadership.
Sam Hor
LYLP Leadership team
..., my mom was struggling to pay our bills , working 2-3 jobs, worried about the summer coming up, and what to do with us kids. Normally, we would be hanging out on the streets during the summer causing trouble. My cousin suggested this camp where they had 2 free meals a day. That got me to sign-up. Once there, I hung out with men who became my role models, my mentors, and my friends,...
Larry Wilson
LYLP Leadership Team
Growing up in the Lowell Highlands, NYSP was one of the most transformative experiences of my youth. I was able to meet and make life-long friends from other backgrounds and other neighborhoods of Lowell that I would never have met otherwise.
Kah Ndi
LYLP Leadership Team
