Young Leaders

Young Leaders | 2005 Youth Leadership Summit Report

WW=P 2005 Youth Leadership Summit Report

Coming from every corner of the state, more than 350 enthusiastic and talented young women and men packed UW-Madison’s Memorial Union, March 21, 2005, to participate in the first-ever Youth Leadership Summit. These young people came, at the invitation of Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, to spend the day networking and learning with peers and prominent Wisconsin women public servants and elected officials.

The Summit was the brainchild of Melinda McNett, a high school senior from Wisconsin Rapids who served on the WW=P Steering Committee as a youth representative. McNett felt opportunities for young women to envision themselves in influential positions in public service were all too scarce. She convened a dynamic committee to change that, and thus the day was born.

Youth Leadership Summit participants were greeted by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and Governor Jim Doyle, who outlined the administration’s vision for gender equality as an integral part of their plan for economic growth in Wisconsin . They expressed their commitment to support Summit participants in their dreams to provide the next generation of strong leadership, and asked them in return to understand the burden and the privilege of their gift to lead: “Use it judiciously and with great joy, because you are poised to frame the future for us all,” the Lt. Governor said.

Summit keynote speakers laid out the arc for public service from youth to maturity - determined and futuristic at both ends of the trajectory. It quickly became clear why Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and its Chief Justice since 1996, has been a role model and leader for women for generations. Her anecdotes of a career breaking new ground were full of fresh lessons for today’s ambitious young women.

Estefania Alves, a 19-year old sophomore at Boston College , told how she started a radio station for teenage girls to counteract the often negative depiction of women in music and to give teen women a powerful voice for change in their community. She laid out her accomplishment step by step, until every young person in the room could clearly see herself building a similar success. Named one of Women’s eNews’ ‘21 Leaders of the 21 st Century,’ Estefania has been recognized for her community leadership by organizations as diverse as the National Organization of Women and CosmoGirl.

During lunch, participants dined with the state’s top women leaders, role models and mentors who were anxious to provide an entry point into a rich network of support for those young people’s dreams. Afternoon breakout sessions included a Career Opportunities Fair to expand that fledgling support network with presenters from public service agencies, and Title IX leadership training. This latter workshop was designed to give everyone a fuller picture of what Title IX should mean to them and their educational experience. And everyone indeed left equipped to provide oversight of the administration of Title IX at their school, empowered to lead peers in guiding full implementation of this historic guarantee for equal opportunity for young women.

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster closed this spectacular day with a dynamic speech on the importance of civic engagement, outlining the enormous achievements women make every day.

The Youth Leadership Summit gave young people intent on being leaders a better understanding of opportunities in government and public service agencies. They were empowered to set high goals for future successes. They connected with other leaders from across the state and opened the door to a bright future. Many wrote to say it changed their lives. But their energy and enthusiasm also lit up the capital city that March day, igniting a fire that burns bright today.

We’re collecting ideas for next year’s Youth Leadership Summit, knowing it will have to at least double in size to accommodate growing interest. We’ll post the date on this page as soon as it is set.

To volunteer for the organizing committee, submit your ideas to expand Summit content and better serve the goals of participants - or to advise us of groups that should be involved - please send an email to . To be sure you receive registration materials as soon as they are ready, just sign up on this website.