Young Leaders Institute

Community Engagement, Career Exploration, Leadership Development
Young Leaders Institute (YLI) is a leadership and career-readiness program for high school students from across the county. Once a month, you’ll spend a day at a local business. You’ll tour the workplace, meet the people who work there, and jump into hands-on project sprints that tackle real challenges the company is actually facing. You’ll use BetterCulture’s 20 Tenets of Culture to guide how you and your team work through each challenge.

Along the way, you’ll grow your confidence, sharpen your teamwork and career skills, get an inside look at different career paths, and make friends with students from other schools.

Who should apply?
Sophomores enrolled in any Richland County school or homeschool during the 2026-2027 school year who want to learn more about Richland County and grow as leaders.

Mission
To provide Richland County high school sophomores with training that will cultivate leadership development, inform career decisions, and foster civic engagement.

What to expect

• Learn and apply the 20 Tenets of Culture.
• Explore businesses, healthcare systems, and local governments across Richland County.
• Discover the opportunities Richland County has to offer, and how you can get involved.
• Build a network of friends from schools throughout the county.
• Develop a personal commitment to get involved with projects and organizations in your community.
• Work on team challenge projects at local organizations alongside students from schools across the county

What will I experience on a typical day?
9:15 a.m. – Arrival at site

9:30 a.m. – Tenet training including discussion, videos, and reflection.

10:30 a.m. – Organization site tour

11:00 a.m. – Organization panel and career discussion during lunch.

12:00 p.m. – Team challenge project tied to employer needs.

1:15 p.m. – Connect the day’s Tenets to career skills and personal goals.

1:30 p.m. – Program concludes

Curriculum: The Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development partners with BetterCulture, a nationally recognized leadership and workplace culture expert, to bring you the 20 Tenets of Culture. You’ll build the mindset, skills, and tools to strengthen your school, your future workplace, and your community. Program days mix videos, discussions, hands-on activities, and time to reflect on what you’re learning.

When do the program days happen?

Seven monthly program days, each day anchored to Tenets and a hands‑on employer activity. First Wednesdays: October, November, December, February, March, April, May
9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

October 7, 2026
How to be a Great Teammate
Site: Business

November 4, 2026
Communicating with Respect & Positivity
Site: Customer Service

December 2, 2026
Appreciation, Recognition & Repairing Relationships
Site: Nonprofit

February 3, 2027
Reducing Drama & Strengthening Communication
Site: Healthcare

March 3, 2027
Decision-Making, Alignment & Professional Relationships
Site: Local City Hall

April 7, 2027
Accountability, Courage & Respecting Differences
Site: Advanced Manufacturing

May 5, 2027
Hard Conversations, Joy & Finishing Strong
Hospitality/Area Attraction

Program Impact

Class of 2026 cohort members completed a reflective post-survey on leadership skills development, community familiarization, and career pathways as a result of the program. Participants reported growth in all of these areas. Scroll through to view the program’s impact on participants after completing the program.

Facilitator

Angie Cirone, MA
Director, Mansfield-Richland Area Educational Foundation

Angie Cirone serves as the Richland LEADS Executive Director. She facilitates programs to meet the needs of our growing region. She enjoys building relationships with leaders and forming partnerships with organizations. 

Before joining the Chamber, Angie worked in revenue-generating leadership roles at Richland Source and Source Brand Solutions. She also worked for Ashland Theological Seminary, Cleveland State University and John Carroll University in fundraising, sales, and programming roles. 

Originally from the Cleveland area, Angie moved to north central Ohio in 2014. She serves on the board of directors for the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and the United Way of Ashland County.  

Class of 2027 Application Information

Participants

A maximum of 35 participants will be selected annually from any Richland County school or homeschool.

Selection

Candidates selected for the program will possess a sincere commitment, motivation, and interest in developing leadership skills and serving the Richland County community during their high school years.
All applications will be reviewed, and the applicants who most sincerely demonstrate commitment, leadership ability, and a desire to serve their community will be selected.

Tuition

This program is free for students. The Milliron Foundation and corporate sponsors fund the program.

Commitment

Young Leaders Institute requires that a student have the full support of the school district he or she represents. To graduate from Young Leaders Institute, a participant must attend all but one program day.

Apply Today

Applications for the class of 2026-2027 are due by Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Applicants will be notified of an admission decision by Friday, September 18, 2026.