Introducing the 2022-2023 Leadership Training Project

by Patrique Harris, Youth Ministry Director

If you know me, you know that I get excited about all things youth development and all things Jamaican. Accordingly, I thought I would use two Jamaican proverbs to highlight some of what we’re cooking up in the Youth Ministry at Mission Adelante. I hope this gives you a taste of the incredible young talent in the Wyandotte county neighborhood, and of course, a taste of the Jamaican vernacular.

“We likkle but we tallawah”

We may be small but we are strong and we are mighty. Four teenagers – Amelia, Ignacio, Alana and Anisha – are joining our Leadership Training Project (LTP) for the 2022-2023 school year. LTP is Mission Adelante’s year-long discipleship and leadership development experience. Although we have a lean group, their impact will be felt across various programs in our ministry. Notably, Amelia and Anisha will be taking the reins in Adelante Arts Community as Junior Apprentice and Junior LTP Intern respectively. Anisha in particular continues to impress us and is a true representation of “likkle but tallawah”. She is the youngest of the group at 13 years old but punches way above her weight! She is known as “The Principal” to children in Adelante Arts Community which is a testament to the reputation she has developed as a trusted leader.

“Every mickle mek a muckle”

Every experience, no matter how small, counts; together they form a greater whole. Our youth leaders have a variety of backgrounds, experiences, gifts, personalities, and ideas. Culturally, LTP participants have heritage in Nepal, Laos, Mexico, the U.S., and the Caribbean. The youngest participant is 13 years old, and the eldest is 17 years old. As you can imagine, it is challenging to collaborate and make decisions with these differences. However, we believe each individual’s voice is important and in fact, including everyone’s point of view and using our talents together produce better outcomes. Ignacio seems to practice the essence of “every mickle mek a muckle” when he leads a team. He is intentional about making sure no voice is left unheard and everyone contributes – even when they don’t feel like it!

What’s more, the Summer Interns added a ton of value planning and leading in our weekly Kids and Youth programs. In particular, their contribution to the week-long Summer Arts Camp and Tuesday’s Kids and Youth activities was impressive. Arts Camp had almost 90 students in attendance and they went above and beyond to create the best experience for them! They taught dance, jewelry-making and crochet classes, completed administrative tasks, helped with food service, managed traffic, and so much more!

There is no doubt that we have a special group in this trimester’s Leadership Training Project.