Youth Service Training
Serve Connecticut, in partnership with the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), is pleased to offer a free virtual youth service-learning training series for Connecticut high school aged youth and for adult youth development providers, education providers, and organizations who engage or would like to engage with high school aged youth through service and service-learning.
Comprised of six 90-minute sessions – four for youth and two for adults – the series will take place over the course of the 2025-2026 school year on the following schedule:
Youth Leadership Development Webinars
Audience: High school aged Connecticut youth
Register here for the Youth Leadership Development Webinar Series to receive virtual Zoom links for all four webinars. Webinars will be recorded; you will be provided with access to those recordings after they occur.
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm ET
Everyone is a leader with unique strengths and abilities to make a difference. In this interactive session, participants will learn about their leadership styles, put leadership skills into practice in a group activity, and have reflection discussions about the process. Youth will gain a better understanding of their natural leadership abilities and how they work best with other leadership styles.
Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm ET
Good communication can make all the difference when working with a team or creating change in your community. In this interactive webinar, you’ll learn how to listen actively, pick up on nonverbal cues, and connect with different stakeholders. We’ll also explore how to build stronger relationships and practice communicating for understanding—not just persuasion. Come ready to share, practice, and level up your communication skills!
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 5:00-6:30pm ET
Every community has both strengths and struggles—this session will help you see both more clearly. Together, we’ll practice mapping community assets, identifying personal and local resources, and spotting the connections between people, organizations, and neighborhoods. By focusing on what’s strong (not just what’s wrong), you’ll learn how to take a positive approach to addressing challenges and creating real community impact.
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 5:00-6:30pm ET
Got ideas for change but not sure where to start? This webinar will walk you through how to turn community challenges into action using service-learning. You’ll explore how to move from inquiry to action planning, build leadership skills through community engagement, and discover tools and resources that make impact sustainable. Leave ready to put your ideas into motion and lead change where it matters most.
Youth Development Provider Youth Service Webinars
Audience: Connecticut-based adult providers of youth development services, education, and organizations seeking to engage youth voice and action toward their missions
Register here for both Youth Development Provider Youth Service Webinars to receive virtual Zoom links for both webinars. Webinars will be recorded; you will be provided with access to those recordings after they occur.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 12:30-2:00pm ET
Strong youth-adult partnerships don’t happen by accident—they’re built with intention and care. In this webinar, we’ll explore ideas that support authentic youth voice and participation. Participants will use a Youth-Adult Partnerships Journey Map, assess current practices, and learn collaboration strategies. Together, you’ll create action plans that strengthen youth-adult connections and enhance program impact.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 12:30-2:00pm ET
Youth engagement can be a powerful driver of organizational growth and community impact. This session will provide strategies for developing youth-friendly service opportunities, building sustainable youth councils, and expanding nonprofit capacity for meaningful youth involvement. We’ll also examine alternatives to school-based programming and address challenges in building educational partnerships—equipping you with practical tools to better align youth engagement with your organization’s mission.