YLN implemented an initial mentorship pilot to test its relationship-centered, healing-informed model with system-involved and system-vulnerable youth. The pilot focused on building trust, strengthening leadership skills, and creating safe spaces for young people to process experiences while developing positive future pathways.

Through this pilot, mentors with lived system experience facilitated structured sessions, group discussions, and reflective activities designed to increase confidence, connection, and accountability. The pilot provided critical insight into youth engagement strategies, mentor support needs, and partnership coordination, helping YLN refine its model for future cohorts and scale.

YLN’s mentorship training is a structured, trauma-informed process that prepares mentors with lived system experience to support youth safely, consistently, and effectively. Training centers healing-centered practice, youth co-design, clear boundaries, and ongoing reflection to ensure mentorship is responsive, accountable, and grounded in real-world impact.

Mentorship Co-Design is YLN’s youth-centered approach where system-impacted young people actively shape mentorship programming alongside mentors and staff, ensuring the model is relevant, trusted, and responsive to real community and system needs.

Young Leaders Network hosted “Nurturing Disruption”, our first event outside of two Youth Advisory Council Alumni reunions, shook up the field by involving 90% of the room to be system impacted leaders in the field. Leaders within the field with lived experience from attendees all the way to the photographers were present.

Any young person brought onto the team would be connected to one of our team members for guidance and opportunities to join and/or receive technical assistance with the current or upcoming initiatives.