In July, 14 youth service professionals graduated from the D.C. Youth Workforce Leaders Academy (YWLA), a 10-month professional development program co-led by IEL and the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates. YWLA develops competencies and creates a peer learning community for staff from organizations that provide workforce development services to D.C. youth ages 16 to 24, including those with disabilities. Participants received training on  quality practices and program design in a wide variety of topic areas, including youth rights and policies, youth development and youth voice, program design and delivery, career exploration and workforce preparation, assessment and individualized planning, employer engagement, collaboration and partnership, and engaging families. READ MORE…