Aspira's Youth Leadership Development Program is based on the following principles:
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Young people are a community asset, not a problem.
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It is important to build meaningful relationships across race, class, gender, sexual identity and generations to strengthen the existing social capital of young people in low income communities.
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Youth leadership development takes a long time -- it is a process. Caring adults need to invest in young people over a period of years.
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Young people need to be actively engaged in the process of community change at all levels, from the street corner to the board room.
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Society must acknowledge and embrace the idea that youth are talented and capable of leading community change.
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Young people must lead positive change themselves in order for it to succeed.
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Leadership programs must identify, nurture and support more than a talented elite.
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The process of developing young leaders begins with learning how to learn.
