As the founding element of the McPherson Neighborhood Initiative, OTM established two Youth Leadership Academies in order to develop opportunities for middle school and high school students to be engaged, competent, and thriving members of their community. In collaboration with Napa High School and Silverado Middle School, the Leadership Academies enroll 120 low-income students who receive academic credit for developing youth-led projects to benefit the larger community.

Youth gainskills in collaborative leadership, community organizing, team building and project coordination in conjunction with their academic education. All of this work takes place in close partnership with parents, community members and leaders from more than 14 local agencies.

L.I.F.E.(Lead Into Future Education)

The Middle School Leadership Academy takes place at Silverado Middle School. L.I.F.E. works to create the next generation of leaders who recognize the importance of staying connected to their community and can identify their impact on the world. Students develop, plan and implement projects that meet a need in their school community. Last year, L.I.F.E. students improved their campus through projects including:

• Launching a gang violence prevention media campaign, including a website, bumper stickers, t-shirts and an interactive presentation for adults and youth across Napa
• Holding an event for all Silverado Middle School students with a theme of campus community building
• Decorating the cafeteria with large college and university logos
• Installing garden boxes on campus
• Repainting the majority of campus benches and creating murals

L.A.Y.L.A.(Leadership Academy Youth Leaders in Action)

The High School Leadership Academy partners with Napa High School and is targeted to build personal and social assets in the form of individual efficacy, the ability to make a community impact and academic advancement in preparation for college, career and adulthood. Each member of L.A.Y.L.A. has initiated one or more specific projects, including:

• Maintaining a mentoring program between high school and middle school, elementary and preschool students
• Providing guidance and support for the middle school gang violence prevention campaign
• Designing and implementing a community built preschool playground
• Establishing the McPherson Neighborhood as an officially recognized “Democracy Zone”
• Designing and staffing Explorations, On the Move’s youth-led Career and College Center
• Working with the Napa Valley Unified School District to implement an Educational Equity Campaign
• Designing a Cultural Plaza for the neighborhood
• Hosting three Town Hall meetings for over 500 community members in order to engage community dialogue around issues such as neighborhood improvement, underage drinking and creating an inclusive space for all residents.