By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio celebrated the largest graduating class of its Empowering Future Leaders Summer Program on Thursday, July 23, at the Wayman Palmer YMCA. Forty youth from the Toledo area graduated from the seven- week youth leadership program signifying a milestone in the summer program’s five-year history.
The program was funded to serve 40 youth but received 59 participants with an additional 26 youth on the waiting list, demonstrating the growing demand for youth leadership development opportunities in the area.
The ceremony included remarks from community leaders, speeches from youth participants, a presentation of donations collected during the program’s community food drive to the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA Food Pantry, recognition of outstanding leaders and the presentation of graduation certificates to the youth.
Remarks were given from Marvin Whitfield, PhD, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio, Big Brother’s Big Sister leadership, Ohio State Representative Elgin Rogers, Jr. and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.
“Today is more than just a ceremony,” stated Whitfield, “it is a celebration of growth, perseverance, leadership, and incredible potential that exists within every young person you see before you today. So to our parents, our guardians, our grandparents, thank you. Because without your support, they wouldn’t be here today.”
He continued “Like I say, it’s not a camp… it’s something you earn and have to work for…I’m proud of them and you should be too.”
The program ran from June 8 – July 23, 2026, for youth ages eight-17. The Empowering Future Leaders (EFL) program focuses on four youth development areas (aka Pillars): Life Skills, Leadership Development, Cultural Competence and Career Development.
These pillars provide participants with the necessary tools to make better life decisions, enhance their educational experience and career readiness, and interact positively in diverse environments. This data-driven program is offered in-school, after school, and seven weeks during the summer.
Throughout the program, participants receive evidence-based training through educational activities and meet community members, business leaders, and local government officials who provide speeches or conduct activities centered around one of the program’s four pillars. It creates opportunities for both program participants and the special guests to connect. (source: bbbsnwo.org)
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio is to provide one-to-one mentoring relationships between qualified adults and children in order to help children develop into competent, confident, and caring individuals. The agency provides services to more than 1500 children annually in several different mentoring and leadership programs. It is the agency’s vision that every child who needs a mentor gets one. Through advanced programming, including the Empowering Future Leaders (EFL) program, the organization focuses on four youth development areas (aka Pillars): Life Skills, Leadership Development, Cultural Competence, and Career Development.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio is partially funded by The Lucas County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board. For more information, please visit http://www.bbbsnwo.org/.
