{"id":34080,"date":"2023-04-24T19:41:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T19:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/?p=34080"},"modified":"2023-04-24T19:41:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T19:41:13","slug":"nlc-volunteer-staff-serve-humbly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/nlc-volunteer-staff-serve-humbly\/","title":{"rendered":"NLC volunteer staff serve humbly"},"content":{"rendered":"

The National Leadership Conference<\/a> roared back to life in summer 2022 after two years of virtual and abbreviated gatherings and brought with it a fresh outlook supported by a strong sense of community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all look at NLC as such a place of hope,\u201d said NLC Co-Director Erin O\u2019Brien said. \u201cWe see that in the participants, and it reminds us there are things to be hopeful for. Future generations will make big positive changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, NLC saw new leadership under O\u2019Brien and fellow Co-Directors Michael Harter and Beth Wilson. The three American Youth Foundation staff members worked hard to prepare a transformational eight-day experience for teens and young adults \u2013 familiar territory, as each spent several years as NLC volunteer staff.<\/p>\n

Wilson said these dedicated individuals are key to the program\u2019s success. \u201cVolunteers work their tails off,\u201d said Wilson. \u201cNot only that, but they also have such a positive energy that we couldn’t bring without them. When I leave, my heart is so full because the participants and the volunteers give their all.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, approximately 75 volunteers dedicated countless hours to planning and executing this powerful week. When volunteers describe their experience with NLC, the concept of community inevitably creeps into the conversation. It\u2019s the driving force that motivates them to come back year after year \u2013 in some cases for decades \u2013\u00a0to put on a life-changing program full of tradition and transformational moments.<\/p>\n

Most people join the volunteer staff after they complete the NLC program themselves. That was the case for Shawn Herron, but unlike most volunteers, he returned in 2018, more than 30 years after he was a program participant.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt like coming home,\u201d he said. \u201cI don’t remember the curriculum and I don’t remember a lot of the specifics from 30 years ago, but I remember the feeling and the sense of community. That’s the biggest part of the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herron credits the passion NLC elicits to the connection, commitment, and shared values of staff and participants. Herron also enjoys being able to support high schoolers knowing the impact NLC had on his life.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Isabella Pallotto\u2019s experience as a participant stuck with her. Shortly after graduating NLC, she chose to volunteer and give back to the program that gave her so much.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just get to meet so many great high schoolers who are truly leaders in their community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt’s so amazing, and I think when we go back into the real world where things like the political landscape can be so hard, we can feel a little helpless. Coming to NLC and seeing so many young people who are so excited and passionate \u2026 that\u2019s really special and inspiring to witness every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pallotto said everybody who attends leaves with new friends, whether they\u2019re returning or first-time participants. The group works to make everyone feel comfortable and included from the start.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien echoed that sentiment, noting that volunteers and participants feel like a family who provides unconditional support to everyone and genuinely enjoy each other\u2019s company.\u00a0She added that many volunteers choked up when they saw the participants walk into camp for the first time in two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many people who have volunteered longer than I have and who have given up that time in their lives,\u201d she said. \u201cThat’s not an easy thing to do, to ask someone in the middle of summer to volunteer two whole weeks of their time. I think it really speaks to how much we love what we’re doing, how much we believe in youth empowerment and how much it brings us together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilson said one of the reasons she continues to give her all to NLC is because during every conference, the participants teach her something new about the world or herself. O\u2019Brien said seeing and experiencing everyone\u2019s personal growth keeps her motivated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s life changing,\u201d she said. \u201cI think every single person who has been a part of it can say that NLC has changed their lives in some way \u2013 whether it’s relationships or the things that they learned while they were there.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The National Leadership Conference roared back to life in summer 2022 after two years of virtual and abbreviated gatherings and brought with it a fresh outlook supported by a strong sense of community. \u201cWe all look at NLC as such a place of hope,\u201d said NLC Co-Director Erin O\u2019Brien said. \u201cWe see that in the participants, and it reminds us … <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":34081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[93,107,154],"class_list":["post-34080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-updates","tag-national-leadership-conference","tag-nlc","tag-volunteers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNLC volunteer staff serve humbly - American Youth Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/nlc-volunteer-staff-serve-humbly\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NLC volunteer staff serve humbly - American Youth Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The National Leadership Conference roared back to life in summer 2022 after two years of virtual and abbreviated gatherings and brought with it a fresh outlook supported by a strong sense of community. \u201cWe all look at NLC as such a place of hope,\u201d said NLC Co-Director Erin O\u2019Brien said. \u201cWe see that in the participants, and it reminds us ... 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