New teen leadership program to launch in Boulder

Southwest Montana Youth Partners, with financial support from a new grant, is preparing to launch a program that aims to build leadership skills of younger teenagers in the Boulder area.

The $10,000 grant, provided by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, will seed Boulder’s Youth Leadership Program, affording an opportunity for 7th, 8th and 9th graders to build a culture of leadership through community engagement and hands-on education.

“Most of the leadership groups that these kids see are geared toward the upper grade levels,” said SMYP board secretary Rochelle Hesford, who secured the grant and is developing the new program.