Unlocking YOUR Potential at YouLEAD EPICenter ​

 

YouLEAD Assistance Network (YAN), non-profit agency was established (March 2023) as an affiliate of Future Leaders Outreach Network (FLON) to launch the YouLEAD - Leaders and Entrepreneurs Association of Dreamers EPICenter project initiative programs provided by FLON since 2004. 

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The community based YouLEAD EPICenter site will serve as a centralized hub for the target population. (Kansas City, MO Site Projected to be launched in 2026).

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Target Groups:

Students, grades 8–12    *   Young adults, ages 19–25    * Adults, ages 26 and up 

                     Young adults (Intellectually and developmentally disabled).                                                           Who We Serve - Click Here

 

The school-based sites will be setup in a designated classroom at target schools in Kansas City, MO Public School (KCPS), Charter Schools and Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. 

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Slogan: Leaders Are LIke EAGLES Soaring To New Heights

Empowering Purpose through Healthy Choices

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Summary:

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The YouLEAD EPICenter equips students grades 8-12, young adults, and adults with the skills for life, leadership, and livelihood through an innovative five-tier model. This model integrates workforce development, job readiness, professional skills development, financial literacy, introduction to entrepreneurship, prevention education—addressing alcohol, drugs, tobacco/vaping, and violence—and mental health awareness to empower purpose through healthy choices.

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Participants are equipped with skills that empower them to set goals, become effective leaders, and pursue economic well-being through high-demand, high-salary occupations. Each tier builds upon the previous one—creating a pathway from personal growth to professional success.

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Target Population: Through this evidence-informed approach, young people and adults residing in underserved and disadvantaged communities benefit and gain access to equitable opportunities that promote self-sufficiency, leadership development, and long-term community prosperity.

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Emerging Leaders: Empowered4Purpose – Five-Tier Training Model

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The YouLEAD EPICenter Simulation Incubator offers an innovative, hands-on training experience where participants learn from evidence-based and evidence-informed curricula that connect education to real-world employment.

 

Participants also benefit from job referrals, on-site job fairs, and internship opportunities that bridge training to employment. By combining immersive learning with proven workforce strategies, the Simulation Incubator prepares individuals to be job-ready, purpose-driven, and equipped to lead in today’s evolving economy.

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Through Educational–Virtual Reality (E-VR) simulations, participants explore career pathway occupations that include but are not limited to healthcare, construction, aviation, welding, technology, forklift, HVAC, robotics, drone operation and more. Youth and adults develop essential skills—leadership, communication, and accountability—while building confidence to pursue meaningful careers for life long success.

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Tier 1: Healthy Choices Equal Healthy Pathways

Tier 2: DREAMS2 Career Workforce Development 

Tier 3: Professional Skills Development 

Tier 4: Introduction to Entrepreneurship 

Tier 5: Sankofa Village: Power of Community 

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Tier 1: Healthy Choices Equal Healthy Pathways

 

Focus and Impact: Prevention Education and Life Skills

 

Promotes prevention education and life skills that help participants make positive choices, avoiding alcohol, drugs, and violence while building responsibility, emotional awareness, and self-control.

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What You’ll Learn:

•  Consequences of alcohol, drugs, vaping, and violence

•  Emotional awareness, self-regulation, and stress management

•  Conflict resolution and communication skills

•  Responsible decision-making and personal accountability

•  Building self-respect, empathy, and healthy relationships

🔗 Learn More - Click Here

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Tier 2: DREAMS²Career Workforce Development

 

Focus and Impact: Job Readiness, Career Pathway Exploration, and Economic Mobility

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What You’ll Learn:

•  Resume writing, cover letters, and thank-you letters

•  Job interview techniques and professional etiquette

•  Virtual Reality Job Interview Simulator (JIS) practice

•  Career Pathway Occupations Exploration 

•  Financial literacy and workplace professionalism

•  Hands-on simulations for CTE-aligned careers: healthcare, HVAC, welding, electrical,   construction, aviation, HVAC, robotics, drone operation, forklift, and more

• Exposure to job referrals, on-site job fairs, and internship opportunities

🔗 Learn More - Click Here

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Tier 3: Professional Skills Development

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Focus and Impact: Soft Skills, Leadership, and the C.A.R.E. Principle

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What You’ll Learn:

•  Professional conduct, accountability, and reliability

•  Effective communication and conflict resolution

•  Time management and organizational skills

•  Team collaboration and leadership development

•  Emotional intelligence and empathy in the workplace

•  Applying the C.A.R.E. Principle—Committed, Accountable, Respectful, and Engaged

🔗 Learn More - Click Here

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                            Tier 4: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focus and Impact: Innovation, Business Development, and Financial Independence

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What You’ll Learn:

•   Developing a business idea and writing a business plan

•   Budgeting, pricing, and financial management

•   Branding, marketing, and customer service

•   Hands-on projects with mentorship support

•   Basics of business ownership and sustainability

•   Networking with local entrepreneurs and incubator partners

🔗 Learn More - Click Here

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​                    ​​​​​               Tier 5: Sankofa Village – Power of Community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focus and Impact: Mental Health Wellness and Community Connections

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Tier 5, a new program introduces an innovative approach that connects workforce development with mental health education and support services—helping individuals build emotional strength, access community resources, and sustain long-term employment and well-being.

 

What You’ll Learn:

•  How mental wellness supports career success and job readiness

•  Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid certification

•  How to recognize and respond to mental health challenges                                                                     through Mental Health First Aid training

•  How emotional wellness and mental health impact                                                                               workforce development and job readiness

•  Strategies for managing stress, improving focus, and maintaining work-life balance

•  Techniques to strengthen confidence, empathy, and resilience in the workplace

•  Building confidence, empathy, and emotional resilience

•  Support through Sankofa Village Rites of Passage Program and Network Referral

🔗 Learn More - Click Here​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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