INTERFAITH MINISTRIES ilEAD PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND PARENTS TO EXPAND IN 2023
Recruiting 8th Graders and their parents for junior leadership and service program
HOUSTON (November 15, 2022) – For more than 50 years, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (Interfaith Ministries) has been bringing diverse groups together in dialogue, collaboration, and service. This work continues with the 2023 iLead Youth Engagement Program.
Interfaith Ministries is actively recruiting 8th-grade students and a parent or guardian to join the 2023 iLead Youth Engagement Program, developed to cultivate confident, respectful, and engaged youth leaders through service and learning. iLead will connect 8th- grade students and a parent or guardian in a unique 5-month learning and service opportunity to build stronger interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and networking abilities across diverse faith and cultural backgrounds.
Starting in January in conjunction with the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and running through May, participants will explore Houston’s diversity, learn what allyship means, receive best practices training on navigating a path of success as a high school student, and make a difference through monthly programs with city officials, community leaders, and high school students.
In addition, the students will receive volunteer hours, which are important when they apply for high school clubs, college applications, and internships. Students will also participate in a photography contest to highlight the pillars of iLead – Interfaith, Respect, Diversity, and The Beloved Community which will be displayed during the May graduation. There is a nominal fee to participate, and scholarships are available.
Organized by Gayla Wilson, Community Engagement Program Manager at Interfaith Ministries, this program is made possible through the generous support of lead sponsor CITGO Petroleum Corporation, in cooperation with a local Houston couple who wish to remain anonymous and funding from the Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Memorial Fund.
The deadline to apply is December 16. For more information, please contact Gayla Wilson at gwilson@imgh.org and visit www.imgh.org/ilead-program.