Project Us Blog

Written by Kelly Mills and Melody Cheng

Forsyth County, we have a problem. According to the Equality of Opportunity Project, Forsyth County is ranked among the worst counties in the nation in terms of upward social mobility. In other words, Forsyth is one of the most difficult places to improve in both social status and economic standing. But the Forsyth County Young Leaders Program (FCYLP) is on a mission to fix this.

Founded in 2018, FCYLP is a completely student-led program dedicated to closing the social mobility gap in Forsyth County. In the program, 25 young leaders are afforded the chance to connect with a mentor in their desired career path, gain professional experience, and learn about local opportunities for growth and community engagement. Many students describe their relationship with their FCYLP mentor as life-changing. Through arranged one-on-one meetings, mentors have proved invaluable for the life experiences, insightful advice, and support they grant to their mentees. As a result, students who enter FCYLP emerge as true young leaders equipped with the community, connections, and confidence that will carry them through high school and beyond.

FCYLP holds monthly meetings at Wake Forest University; since the COVID-19 pandemic, these meetings take place virtually. At each meeting, members hear from community and state leaders who offer advice in fields ranging from youth volunteer engagement to college admissions. Past speakers include Daisy Rodriguez, director of Student Aid at the Winston-Salem Foundation, Dr. Allison McWilliams, Assistant Vice President of Mentoring and Career Development at Wake Forest University, and Carla Salas, Assistant Director of Admissions of UNC-Chapel Hill, among many others.

The energy in an FCYLP meeting is infectious. Students feed off of each other’s passion, asking insightful questions and exchanging ideas for new projects and solutions to the problems around them. FCYLP members are some of the most dedicated and talented students Forsyth County has to offer. Yet there is never a competitive spirit among the members, nor any tension over who has more accomplishments or accolades. Each student clearly realizes the unique and important role they play in changing Forsyth County for the better. They are always supportive of each other’s goals and eager to celebrate the successes of their peers. Each student truly feels that they belong, that their voice is worth hearing, and that their leadership is valued.

Megan Maloney, a rising senior with impressive and inspiring achievements to boot, joined FCYLP in the 2020-2021 season. With her passion for law and the guidance of her mentor, Megan created a series of video lessons for middle schoolers that delved into the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights, teaching younger students about the Constitution and their fundamental, inalienable rights. She contacted a local middle school teacher who played her video lessons for in-class instruction. Megan said one of her favorite parts was working alongside Wake Forest University Law students, who were able to answer her own questions about Constitutional rights that made her videos more informative and effective.

FCYLP proved instrumental in new member Eddy Martinez’s senior year. With the confidence and support he gained in the program, Eddy founded a debate club at his school, Ragsdale High, and he led them to compete in both the NC High School Ethics Bowl and the Piedmont Environmental Alliance Environmental Debate, where his club won both individual and team awards. Furthermore, Eddy also achieved personal success this year. He says that the chance to hear from a UNC admissions officer in an FCYLP meeting was deeply impactful, as he was able to ask his pressing questions about the admissions process and hear advice about getting accepted to his dream school. A couple months later, Eddy received his UNC Chapel Hill acceptance letter and was later awarded a full-ride scholarship.

Rising senior Ellie Reynolds joined the program in August of 2020, and she will be returning to serve on the Executive Board for the upcoming season. Ellie says her greatest accomplishment in the past year was the STEM-centered LEGO Club she developed at Brunson Elementary School as part of an initiative to educate and engage students in the STEM field. She started the project by reaching out to Brunson. She was directed to the school’s STEM coordinator, who formed a small group of underserved elementary students to participate in the club. Ellie fundraised 500 dollars and purchased 20 LEGO sets that the participants were able to keep. She then led six meetings via Zoom that combined the engineering design process and problem-solving with creativity and fun. Having received wonderful feedback from the participating students, Ellie plans to continue the LEGO club in the upcoming school year.

Ellie says, “The best part of FCYLP for me is the experience. This program sets you up to accomplish anything you may want to pursue and helped me gain confidence in interpersonal skills.” When asked about his favorite part of the program, Eddy says, “My favorite part of being in FCYLP was being surrounded by a diverse group of like-minded young people who were committed to bettering themselves and the world around them.” The outstanding breakthroughs made by Megan, Eddy, Ellie, and countless members of FCYLP certainly testify to the impact the program has had in Forsyth County. When asked about the role FCYLP played in her successes, Megan states, “The students in FCYLP have always been super encouraging and have supported my goals. My mentor has also been great at giving professional advice and holding me accountable. I would encourage anyone to apply!” Ellie added, “FCYLP has assisted me in my efforts by providing experience and learning opportunities. While the program was completely online this year, I felt supported and included throughout the year. FCYLP gave me the skills to become a more involved student. Through the program, I’ve met wonderful students and leaders who do amazing work to change Forsyth County for the better!”

Success stories like these are not uncommon in the Forsyth County Young Leaders Program. At the final meeting of the 2020-2021 season, every member of the program recounted their accomplishments over the course of the year. One student was able to sit in on a college law class, boosting her confidence in pursuing law. Another student founded an art program for younger students. A third member worked with her mentor to apply and get accepted into her dream school. FCYLP is certainly “empowering high school leaders to change the future of Forsyth County.” Members use the personal skills they learn in the program to benefit their whole community, all while being given constant support and the resources they need to thrive. Today, FCYLP students are taking on the challenges Forsyth County presents. Tomorrow, they will take the world by storm.

Connect with the Forsyth County Young Leaders Program!

Apply to the 2021-2022 season!

Visit Their Website

Or check out the Forsyth County Young Leaders Program on Instagram @fcylp! Applications close on July 30th, 2021.