LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Empowering Teens to Lead with Confidence
Children & teens often think they aren't leaders, but leadership grows with experience. Instead of believing only a few can lead, we should embrace that everyone has leadership potential needing just the right opportunities to flourish. Peers not Fears offers these chances to all students, at any skill level.
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Why do we need leadership skills?
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Peers Not Fears emphasizes that leadership skills, like confidence and decision-making, are learned not innate. Our mission is to equip kids with these skills intentionally through our programs, rather than leaving them to learn from life's trials alone. We focus on nurturing confidence, resilience, and awareness, preparing kids to face challenges with empathy.
Our monthly Leadership program offers teens a platform to enhance their decision-making, independence, and courage, ensuring they receive the leadership opportunities they need. Are you a parent concerned about your teen's leadership skills? Let's explore how we can support their growth together. ​
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How do we develop leadership skills?
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We design and offer content aimed at fostering accountability, team-building, and confidence through various online leadership development programs and an online leadership course addressing common obstacles to leadership. Targeting non-profit youth groups and elementary to high school students, our initiatives strive to fill the gap in leadership development in teens often overlooked by schools. We advocate for inclusive programming that nurtures leadership qualities in all teens, challenging the educational status quo by empowering youth to lead. It's crucial to actively support and listen to students aspiring to make a difference, truly embodying the role of educators in inspiring the next generation. What steps are you taking to empower these future leaders?
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Are you ready to bridge the gap?​
PEERS NOT FEARS
VISION
To build a stronger tomorrow by empowering high school students through leadership.
MISSION
Provide foundational and personalized leadership skills to teens, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status, and gender.
Hi, I am Lorraine Connell!
Leadership is Developed
I believe that we are all developing leadership. Teens are under the assumption that leaders are born, but I know that we are all developing as leaders
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Too many of us, myself included, don't see ourselves as the leaders we are. I am on a mission to change that myth. Leaders are not born they are developed, we need to provide opportunities for us to grow as leaders. Making mistakes is part of the process, and while the stakes are high in developing leaders the ultimate growth of a positive school culture is worth it!
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After spending 20 years in the classroom I realized that we were not only perpetuating the myth, we were using it to our advantage. I didn't see myself as a leader, I was just a teacher, just a mom, just - just - just. When one (or several) of my students told me they were leaders I knew I had to redefine leadership for myself, so I could change my belief in others. ​​​​
PEERS not FEARS
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I know that there is a lot of fear in schools, and so much of that fear is built into relationships with our peers. If we see our peers as leaders and ourselves as leaders, we can start seeing community!