County and City to Partner in Youth Leadership Academy

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County announced they will partner to provide area youth with meaningful eight-week internships this summer.

The City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), created in April 2007, was designed to introduce Asheville High School students to civic-minded careers while encouraging them to take an active part in saving for their college education.

CAYLA students are
chosen from eligible applicants at Asheville High School by a committee
of local educators and city staff. Each student is required to submit
an application and at least two written recommendations to the
committee, and attend an in-person interview. After attending
orientation in June, students will begin their internships in both City
and County Departments, as well as with a number of participating
nonprofits and businesses.

“The
City is committed to offering Asheville’s youth valuable experiences
that can enhance their education and their future careers,” said Mayor
Terry Bellamy. “CAYLA is designed to help students take an active part
in shaping our community and to become role models of leadership for
their classmates.”

CAYLA
students will earn approximately $7 an hour. To support their goal of
attending college, CAYLA students will each receive $2,000 in a 529
College Savings Plan to be awarded by the Asheville City Schools
Foundation at the completion of the program in May 2009. Buncombe
County has allocated $25,000 to support the program’s development this
year. “We are proud to partner with the City to give students the work
experience that will help them succeed,” said County Commission
Chairman Nathan Ramsey.

In
addition to summer internships, the CAYLA program places a significant
emphasis on community service. The current 20 CAYLA students have
completed more than 425 hours of community service with agencies
including MANNA FoodBank, RiverLink, the Irene Wortham Center, ABCCM
Women and Children’s Homeless Shelter, Meals on Wheels, and the
Lee-Walker Heights Youthful HAND Daycare, among others.