Forty Years. One City. Generations of Leaders.
For 40 years, the Young Leadership Council has been New Orleans' home for emerging leaders. This year, we celebrate the generations who helped build it.
About the 40th Anniversary
In the spring of 1986, a handful of young people had a series of breakfast meetings at the Pontchartrain Hotel. The members of this group had each been involved in one of the campaign organizations of the three major candidates in the recently concluded mayoral election. Each wanted to keep alive the feeling of contribution he/she had experienced in the mayoral campaign. All the participants were determined to forge an independent organization which could viably confront the problems then facing the City of New Orleans.
For 40 years, the Young Leadership Council has developed leaders through hands-on civic projects, mentorship, and a community that stays with you long after your membership ends. Our alumni are in boardrooms, city halls, nonprofits, and neighborhoods across New Orleans and beyond.
This year, we're honoring 40 years of leadership, service, and love for this city, and looking ahead to the next 40.
For the heart of New Orleans, and the leaders of tomorrow.
Thank You to Our Committee
This anniversary celebration has been a true labor of love, and none of it would be possible without the time, energy, and dedication of the volunteers who have shown up for every meeting, every event, and every email thread to make it happen.
To every member of the 40th Anniversary Committee: thank you. This year is a reflection of your dedication and of the spirit YLC has always stood for.
| Jodi Amondt | Danielle Boveland | Lynne Burkart | Askala Calhoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danae Columbus | Kathy Hebert | Karen Kearney | Andrew Koehler |
| Margaux Krane | Monty Lunn | Danielle Martin | Amanda Minetti |
| Joy Okoro | Suzanne Rusovich | Stephen Sewell | Graham Williams |
| Kendra Reade |
Want to Be Part of It?
The 40th anniversary belongs to everyone who has ever been part of YLC.
Here's how to get involved.
Share Your Story
Are you a YLC alum? We'd love to feature you in our Where Are They Now? spotlight series. Tell us about your YLC years and how the organization shaped your path.
Submit a Memory or Photo
Have a favorite YLC memory? A photo from a project, an event, or a WATS over the years? We're collecting moments from across the decades. Submit yours and help us tell the full story.
Volunteer
The 40th anniversary wouldn't happen without our volunteers. If you're interested in helping at the Reunion Event on October 8, we'd love to have you.
New Orleans — Still Proud to Call It Home.