Sixteen Valley Youth House staff members have completed the Leadership Valley Youth House program, spending September through May building their professional leadership skills and expanding their relationships across our organization.

The Class of 2026 staff came from different programs, departments, and locations. The year started with an opening retreat where participants who had never met were able to begin forming the connections that carried through the rest of the program. This set the tone for the rest of the LVYH experience as these 16 staff members were able to evolve into a group of professional leaders who continued their commitment to making a difference.

Throughout the year, the cohort attended trainings and workshops that covered topics like impacting change in the workplace, personal leadership styles, managing conflict, communication, and decision making under pressure. These trainings are designed to bring new perspectives into Valley Youth House and challenge the way participants think about their work. Each session gave participants something concrete to bring back to their teams, their locations, and their own lives. 

Leadership Valley Youth House is a reminder that leadership is not about titles, it is about the people around you. The 16 members of the Class of 2026 represent the future of leadership within Valley Youth House, and the relationships built this year will continue to strengthen us for years to come.

The year wrapped up with capstone presentations focused on staff engagement and youth engagement. The participants looked at how VYH can better support staff and strengthen relationships with the young people Valley Youth House serves. The presentations further reflected how much the group had grown over the course of the year.

Congratulations to the Leadership Valley Youth House Class of 2026!

For more internal Valley Youth House news, read about our 2026 Annual Meeting.