Last month, Independence Now teamed up with Charles County Public Schools to host an inaugural Youth Leadership Forum Junior (YLF Jr.) in La Plata, MD. Sixteen energetic and dynamic students ages 10-13 participated in the day-long forum that is associated with the Maryland Pathways to Partnerships Initiative (MPPI).
YLF Jr. facilitators included Independence Now’s Danielle Bustos, Youth Leadership Forum Coordinator; Kelvin Hawkins, Youth Independence Living Specialist; and Shannon Minnick, Deputy Director. Session topics addressed self-awareness, advocacy, and disability history. MPPI is designed to improve the transition of students with disabilities ages 10-21 from school to adult life.
We were delighted to partner with Career Navigators Glenn Casiero and Dakota Hinely from Charles County Public Schools and express sincere thanks to Maryland DORS whose funding made this extraordinary gathering possible through an MPPI grant.
On another YLF note, time is running out for rising junior and senior high school students who are interested in attending the 26th annual Maryland Youth Leadership Forum from June 25-27 at Towson University. Don’t miss the chance to meet other students with disabilities from across Maryland, obtain advocacy and life transition skills, and spend a weekend on a college campus!
Learn more and apply for the 2026 Maryland Youth Leadership Forum
IMAGES: photos from a youth leadership and community-building program showing students participating in classroom discussions, outdoor team-building activities, collaborative art projects, and group photos with staff and speakers, including several wheelchair users and students with disabilities interacting together on a campus setting. Alt text embedded in individual images.
