Welcome to the 30th Annual APRIL CONFERENCE 

Youth Leadership Forum was Great! What's Next?

Jennifer Hermanson, Opal Besaw, Lucy Galarus, Drae Nelson, and Maddie Swica

 

Session Overview:

For years, we have considered the question of what to do with youth after they complete a YLF week? We have excited advocates that are ready to go and tackle the world. How do we direct that energy and keep our future leaders on track for a successful transition to adult life?
Montana's solution was MYLiFe STEP II. Starting in 2018, this summer program has taken the previous years YLF Alumni and brought them back for the next phase in leadership training. STEP II empowers youth with disabilities, encouraging them to be successful, independent, and employed adults.

The weeklong program includes: job shadows individually tailored to each delegates’ interests and career goals, experience participating in a professional conference environment, advocacy and vocational skills training, workshops on relationships and professional behavior in the workplace, budgeting and financial integrity training, planning for self-determined living, connecting with community resources and service providers, and a community service project.

"Step forward" and learn more about this successful program from the staff that facilitate it as well as from the youth that experienced it during their transition from high school to the workforce.

 

Additional Session Materials:

 

About Your Presenters:

Jennifer Hermanson

Jennifer has volunteered a week every summer for the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF, pronounced "My Life") starting in 2006. In 2018, she became the program's director so she can serve youth full time. Jen has worked with hundreds of youth with disabilities with a variety of disabilities on transition planning, self-advocacy and leadership skills. She also coaches high school speech & debate so has extensive experience teaching youth how to communicate effectively. Jennifer has been recognized for her coaching and service to youth with disabilities, even serving as a Belonging and Inclusion Advocate at the National Speech and Debate Tournament for the last two years.

Michael has been in an open relationship with Advocacy since 2001 when he was a delegate at the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF). He works currently as the Youth Transitions Coordinator at Summit Independent Living Center. Both these relationships have opened doors for Michael to have a plethora (many) other opportunities to model, model, model as an advocate. He was a board member with APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living) for the better part of his youth and a School Board member for MCPS (Missoula County Public Schools) from 2013-2019. Michael is also very proud to brag that he has returned as staff to MYLF ever summer since 2002 and is a staff member of the program throughout the year.

 

Opal Besaw

Opal Besaw is a proud alumnus of both Montana Youth Transitions and the Montana Youth Leadership Forum. She is passionate about helping youth find the voices to advocate for themselves. Opal has served as Montana Youth Leadership staff for three years and this year will be a keynote speaker at the Montana Youth Transitions Conference. In 2023, Opal received the Linda Gonzales Award for Outstanding Rural Youth.

 

Lucy Galarus

Lucy Galarus is a high school senior on the speech and debate team. She is also a youth peer advocate with a local independent living center, Ability Montana. She has participated in Montana youth leadership form in 2023 and 2024 and has been a delegate both those years. She is passionate about disability rights and tries to support her community as much as possible. She lives with her family in Butte Montana.

 

Drae Nelson

Drae Nelson hails from Bainville, Montana. Drae first attended Montana Youth Leadership Forum in 2022, and since returned for Step 2 as well as two years of staffing. He is also an Alumni Ambassador with the MYLiFe program. Drae was a featured speaker at the 2022 National Vocational Rehabilitation Conference. That same year, Drae was selected as a representative for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Drae enjoys running cross country and participating in FFA. He currently attends Williston State College.

 

Maddie Swica

Maddie Swica is proud to be from Bozeman, Montana. She has attended both Step 1 and 2 of the Montana Youth Leadership Forum. She was recently accepted and is now attending Montana State University's Life Scholars program. This three-year program focuses on learning about different vocations, internships and academics for youth with disabilities. She loves to spend her free time swimming and swam for the Bozeman High Hawks and now the MSU swim club. Outside of school she likes to spend time with friends and her cockapoo, Stella.

User Login