Program Overview

The Werklund Foundation began the Empowering Minds™ youth leadership education initiative to empower students with the self-confidence, motivation and resilience necessary to thrive in life.

How do you define leadership?

believe personal leadership is a combination of many actions and behaviours, including the following:

Confidence

Every person has personal fears and hesitations, it is only the degree to which these fears limit a person that changes. Through our programs, students learn that failure is often the first step to success, and all leaders continue to push forward. Empowering Minds™ graduates leave with the confidence to meet new people, set goals, persevere through failure, speak their mind, and believe in their potential.

"Without this training I wouldn't be where I am today. By addressing my insecurities and helping me remove them, I love the way I am. I look in the mirror everyday and see a confident, strong young man."

~ Teen Leadership Breakthrough Graduate

Learning and growth

Even as a teenager, individuals who do not continue to grow, evolve, and improve, fall behind and limit their options. Whether it is learning or developing a new skill; successful leaders are always striving to reach their next level. Empowering Minds™ graduates are intrinsically motivated to embrace challenges and take responsibility for creating their success.

"Empowering Minds™ helped me find myself, to address my fears, and destroy them. I am now a peer leader at the school and helping other ESL students integrate. I am not afraid to dream big."

~ Teen Leadership Breakthrough Graduate

Honor and integrity

Regardless of age, when an individual fails to follow through, it is a reflection of character. At the Werklund Foundation, we define integrity as "doing the right thing when no one else is watching." Empowering Minds™ graduates have a clear understanding of what it means to keep agreements and honestly represent one's self.

"After this training, I truly know what a leader is. Being a leader starts with me believing in myself and respecting myself. Once I learned that, I could start believing in and truly respecting others."

~ Teen Leadership Breakthrough Graduate

Initiative

Most people know what they 'should do', however they fail to take initiative. Experience and education are powerful tools, however it is only when one takes action that potential is realized. Empowering Minds™ graduates are ready to take action towards realizing their potential.

"Teen Leadership Breakthrough taught me to do everything I do to my fullest potential."

~ Teen Leadership Breakthrough Graduate

Positive Influence

Each and every person impacts other people and has the ability to lead through positive actions. The Werklund Foundation believes "to lead" is to exhibit actions and behaviors that positively influence others. Empowering Minds™ graduates understand the value of supporting others, encouraging people around them, and believing in other people.

"I look at people in a different way now, and I have definitely become a better daughter, sister, friend, and leader as a result."

~ Teen Leadership Breakthrough Graduate