CORO

The Program

Exploring Leadership (EL) is comprised of a set of modules designed to increase the Youth Fellows’ abilities in problem-solving, critical thinking and goal setting, ultimately giving them the skills necessary to become facilitators and collaborators for community change.
The program includes: skill building workshops, interviews with local leaders, internships, hands-on community engagement, and community service projects.

The Exploring Leadership program experience is carried out in 3 distinct phases - summer, fall, and spring. The specific activities and time devoted to each phase uniquely address personal and community transformation. 
Participants earn a $1200 stipend for their participation.


Watch CBS5 Interview about Coro's Exploring Leadership Program »
Listen to "What Makes Exploring Leadership Unique" »

          PROGRAM CALENDAR »                                 PROGRAM LOCATIONS »

Summer Program Components
(June - August)

INTERNSHIPS:   During the summer component, Youth Fellows are placed in five-week internships for three days per week at a   business, government agency, or non-profit organization. Youth gain advanced career skills and make a meaningful contribution to host organizations by completing substantive projects.
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RETREATS:    During the second week of program, Youth Fellows venture out of the urban Bay Area for two days on an overnight retreat that includes bonding, cooking, and reflection. Youth Fellows participate in several team-building activities to further develop their teamwork and communication skills. There is also a fun summer retreat to bring closure to the summer component and a fall retreat that focuses on risk-taking and cooperation.
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SEMINARS & INTERVIEWS:    Seminars teach Coro tools and skills such as public speaking, meeting facilitation, fundraising, project management, event planning, etc. Friday Focus Days involve field trips into the community where students use their inquiry skills to interview a diverse array of leaders.
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COMMUNITY EXPLORATIONS:   Youth Fellows venture out into the community to interview local community leaders and residents to gain an understanding of the role leadership plays in the business, government, and non-profit sectors. These field trips are meant to expose the students to the diversity of resources in the Bay Area and increase their network of contacts.
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GROUP COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT (CAP):   Youth Fellows work together as a group to discover, design and deliver a Community Action Project that makes an impact on a pressing community issue they have been investigating. This experience reinforces project planning and organizational skills, group facilitation, and the ability to apply their summer learning to take informed, effective action in their community.
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Part-Time Fall & Spring Components
(September - April 30th)
AFTER-SCHOOL SEMINARS:  Youth Fellows continue to learn important leadership skills such as time management, relationship management, project planning, marketing, community organizing, etc. that theu then apply to the discovery, design and delivery of an individual Community Action Project that addresses an issue that they've identified affects their school communities.
                                                                     
SCHOOL COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT:  Youth Fellows interview peers, teachers, administrators, etc. at their high school to identify a pressing issue affecting their school community. Then, with the support of project coaches (community members) peers, and a local organization the Youth Fellows design and deliver an Action & Awareness week in March to address the issue affecting their school.
                                                                    
SATURDAY EXPLORATIONS:   One Saturday a month the Youth Fellows take a field trip to explore a pressing issue affecting their communities such as Food Justice, Access to Higher Education, The Digital Divide, etc. During the field trip they connect with community members and organizations to gain hands on experience with these issues and learn about ways to take action. After each Saturday Exploration the Youth Fellows apply what they’ve discovered to address.
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