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Youth Leadership St. Louis

2026-27 Application

This application is for individual students interested in participating in our 2026-27 Youth Leadership St. Louis program.

To be eligible, you must:

Be a student in good standing entering your junior (11th grade) year in 2026-27, not currently enrolled at one of our YLSL participating schools.
Have the support of your parent/guardian in participating, including the $500 tuition.
Be able to attend all scheduled program days.

Applications are due by May 15, 2026. Questions? Contact YLSL Program Director Beth Casagrand at bethc@focus-stl.org or (314) 657-4026.

"*" indicates required fields

Program Overview

Founded in 1989, Youth Leadership St. Louis (YLSL) is an internationally recognized program that informs, connects, prepares and empowers St. Louis area youth to become civic and community leaders.

Student Information

Name*

First Last

Preferred Name

School*

Date of Birth*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Age*

Student Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Parent/Guardian Name (Primary)*

First Last

Parent/Guardian Email (Primary)*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Home Address*

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Student Cell Phone

Parent/Guardian Consent*

My parent/guardian supports my participation in Youth Leadership St. Louis.

Demographics

Sex

Male

Female

Prefer Not to Say

Not Listed

Race/Ethnicity

African-American/Black

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian

Bi-Multi-Racial

Caucasian/White

Hispanic/Latino or Spanish Origin

Middle Eastern/North African

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Other

Activities/Organizations

Please list, in order of importance to YOU, your school, social, athletic, or community activities or organizations in which you have participated in the last 3 years.

Please list any hobbies or interests not listed above.

Program Attendance

Full attendance by each participant is necessary if the YLSL program is to meet your leadership goals as well as our program goals. Therefore, it is essential for you, the participant, to fully understand the importance of attending each session. Please review the calendar of program dates.

Do you currently have a part-time job?

Yes

If yes, please note average number of hours per week.

Do you currently volunteer?

Yes

If yes, please note average number of hours per week.

Would your job or volunteer work interfere with your attendance at YLSL sessions? You must be available on scheduled program days from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yes

Please review the following requirements and check that you agree to each of them.*

If selected, I will attend all program days from the opening session through graduation.

I understand that attendance will be taken, and failure to attend without an excused absence may result in my dismissal from the program.

Personal Perspective

Why do you want to be in the Youth Leadership St. Louis (YLSL) program?

What are some qualities/skills you can bring to the program?

What do you expect to gain from this program?

Have you had a chance to serve in a leadership or volunteer role? If so, list up to three (3) leadership activities and/or positions you have held or participated in the past two years (school, volunteer, religious, social, athletic, community activities or organizations).

What do you think are the biggest challenges or opportunities facing St. Louis?

If you could change one thing about St. Louis, what would it be?

FOCUS St. Louis is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

1034 S. Brentwood Blvd.

Suite 650

St. Louis, MO 63117

About

At FOCUS St. Louis, we believe that everyone possesses the power to be a leader. Through our experience-based leadership programs and civic issues education, we help people better understand our region and build their capacity for change.

Learn More

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Leadership
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Podcast
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Programs

FOCUS offers a continuum of programs to meet participants where they are and prepare them to take the next step in their civic leadership journey. Our programs challenge leaders to think critically, to collaborate across divisions and to see the region through new eyes.

Find Your Program

Leadership St. Louis
Women in Leadership
Emerging Leaders
Youth Leadership St. Louis
Experience St. Louis

FAQs
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Events

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What’s Right with the Region
Start With Leadership Conference

Alumni

When you graduate from a FOCUS program, you join a powerful network of more than 11,000 alumni driving positive change in the St. Louis region and beyond. There are many ways to stay engaged with FOCUS while continuing your leadership journey.

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Support Us

Help us create a thriving St. Louis! As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, FOCUS depends on the support of our members and donors to continue our work of educating and connecting leaders and facilitating the important conversations.

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Join Focus

At FOCUS St. Louis, we believe that everyone possesses thepower to be a leader and that even the most difficult issues are solvable. Through our experience-based leadership programs
and civic issues education, we help people better understand our region and build their capacity for change.

Learn More

Mission
Leadership
Join Our Team
Latest News
Annual Report

Podcast
Community Agreement
Contact Us
Join Our Email List

Find Your Program

Leadership St. Louis
Women in Leadership
Emerging Leaders
Youth Leadership St. Louis
Experience St. Louis

FAQs
FOCUS BoardBridge
Custom Programs

Upcoming Events
What’s Right with the Region
Start With Leadership Conference

Ways to Stay Engaged
Update Your Information
Member/Alumni Login

Support FOCUS
Partners
Donate Now