The mission of the Tavis Smiley Foundation is to enlighten, encourage and empower youth by providing leadership skills that will promote the quality of life for themselves, their communities and our world.
Since its inception more than 5,000 youth ages 13 to 18 have participated in the foundations leadership training workshops and conferences. Many teens in the program have entered and completed college, organized health fairs and voter registration drivers, conducted teen town hall meetings, started businesses and interned with city mayors and presidential candidates.
THE TAVIS SMILEY SHOW FEATURES YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Young participants of the Tavis Smiley Foundation's Youth Leadership Institute provide insight into the thoughts and feelings of America's future leaders. Listen to what they have to say.
Anthony A. Phillips, a native of Philadelphia, and a junior at Bates College has been selected by the Institute for Responsible Citizenship to participate in its summer leadership program in Washington, D.C. Anthony joined the Youth to Leaders program when he was 14 and is co-founder of Youth Action, a youth-led non-profit organization in Philadelphia. Read more about Anthony.
MEET A LEADER
Aubrey Fontenot, 17, of Cypress, Texas attended the Leadership Institute in 2006 and now this dynamic young leader is making his way in the business world. Read his story on his passion for wearable art. If you are an alum or a teen who is an outstanding leader, you can be featured in section too. Drop us a line and tell us how you're changing the world. Send to y2l@tavistalks.com. Put Meet a Leader in the subject line.
See highlights from the 2007 Leadership Institute.
Watch the entire highlights video from the 2007 Leadership Institute: View
NATIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWS
Meet the 13 members of the National Youth Advisory Council who are ready to change to change the world! Click here.
Resource: Helpful links about available scholarships Click here for more information.
RAHEEM DEVAUGHN AND LA RADIO PERSONALTY GUY BLACK JOIN TAVIS SMILEY TO HONOR YOUTH & RAISE FUNDS MONEY FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
Raheem DeVaughn and KJLH radio personality Guy Black will join Tavis Smiley at the 8th Annual Salute to Youth Leadership Benefit & Auction on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 6 pm – 10 pm.
The benefit will be held at the exclusive Sofitel hotel in Beverly Hills, 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
The event will include dinner, a live and silent auction featuring Mexico and the Caribbean travel packages, airline tickets, a walk-on role for the CW hit show, The Game, designer handbags, and a special performance by DeVaughn.
The benefit will honor outstanding young leaders including actress and activist Jurnee Smollett as well as the 2008 Smiley Scholars scholarship winners.
This year’s Salute to Youth Leadership honorees are: Anthony Phillips of Philadelphia, PA (Emerging Youth Leader Award); Angela Groves of Cleveland, Ohio (Youth in Action Award); Sydnee Kirvin of Los Angeles (Volunteer Award); and American Honda Motor Corp. (Corporate Citizen Award).
The event is the annual recognition and benefit for the Tavis Smiley Foundation, an organization Smiley founded in 1999 to enlighten, encourage and empower youth through the development of leadership skills. To date more than 6,000 African American youth ages 13 to 18 have participated in the foundation’s programs.
Proceeds will support the foundation’s 2009 Leadership Institute, a four-day youth conference that includes workshops on advocacy, youth organizing, college and career planning. More than 200 youth representing 22 states attended the 2007 conference held in August at Texas Southern University. Plans are underway for the 2008 Institute and registration will open in February.
The Salute to Youth Leaders Benefit is sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Coca-Cola, American Honda Motor Co., Northrop Grumman, Prudential Financial and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
For the KJLH promotion and tickets call 323-290-1888, ext. 229 and ask for Vonda.
The mission of the Tavis Smiley Foundation is to enlighten, encourage and empower youth by providing leadership skills that will promote the quality of life for themselves, their communities and our world.
Young participants of the 
More than 220 youth representing 28 states participated in the 2008 Leadership Institute at UCLA in August. 
Anthony A. Phillips, a native of Philadelphia, and a junior at Bates College has been selected by the Institute for Responsible Citizenship to participate in its summer leadership program in Washington, D.C. Anthony joined the Youth to Leaders program when he was 14 and is co-founder of Youth Action, a youth-led non-profit organization in Philadelphia. 
Aubrey Fontenot, 17, of Cypress, Texas attended the Leadership Institute in 2006 and now this dynamic young leader is making his way in the business world. 
The benefit will be held at the exclusive Sofitel hotel in Beverly Hills, 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
The event will include dinner, a live and silent auction featuring Mexico and the Caribbean travel packages, airline tickets, a walk-on role for the CW hit show, 