The Jeter's Leaders is a leadership development program created to empower, recognize, and enhance the skills of high school students who: promote healthy lifestyles by staying drug and alcohol free; achieve academically; are committed to improving their community through social change activities; and serve as role models to younger students and deliver positive messages to their peers. An important way the Leaders accomplish leadership and social change activities is through their biannual Summer Leadership Conference. The initiative was developed by the Jeter's Leaders, and it was through their vision that this Conference was brought to life. Every two years, the Leaders from New York City and western Michigan come together to put on the Conference for other youth leadership programs. The Jeter's Leaders create their workshops based on topics they feel are affecting teens today.

The workshops will be presented by the Leaders who have had previous guidance from trained professionals with various backgrounds who offered insight and training. This year's workshop topics include:

• College Readiness
• Community Dynamics
• Financial Literacy
• Global Impact
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Healthy Relationships
• Professional Development
• Teens & Media

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09/10/2006 1:54 PM ET

The conference attendees pose for a group photo. (Eileen Barroso/DerekJeter.com)

The Jeter's Leaders Program is a youth leadership program for high school students in the New York City and West Michigan areas. The program focuses on keeping the youth of today drug and alcohol free, as well as academically excellent. Another focus of the program is to bring social change to the leaders' communities, as well as to communities in surrounding areas.

One way the Leaders accomplish this is through their bi-annual Youth Leadership Conference. Every two years, the leaders from New York City and West Michigan come together to put on a conference for high school students covering topics they feel are affecting teens. This year, the conference was held at The University of Chicago from Monday, Aug. 7 through Wednesday, Aug. 9.

During the conference, the Leaders presented six different workshops to high school youth groups from the West Michigan, New York City, and Chicago areas. The topics covered were Stress and Stress Management, College Readiness, Healthy Lifestyles, Personal Development, Conflict Resolution, and Relationships and Responsibility. The leaders presented to about 20 students at a time and used skits, games and discussions to help the students understand their given topic.

We were very fortunate in having students from the following groups attend our conference:

• The Muhammad Ali Center from Louisville, Ky.
• Youth United Way from Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Abyssinian Development Cooperation from New York
• Positive Youth Development from Chicago
• Books and Hoops from Chicago
• The Mikvah Foundation from Chicago

The R&B group DEEP performed a few of their hit songs for our Leaders and visiting guests. (Eileen Barroso/DerekJeter.com)

Aside from presenting and attending workshops, the Leaders and visiting students were able to take part in some fun activities. On Monday, Aug. 7, everyone had time to mingle and get to know each other at the Official Jeter's Leaders Youth Leadership Conference Kick-Off Party. During the party, the conference attendees enjoyed dancing under the night sky and even sang some karaoke.

On Tuesday before the Leaders presented their first set of workshops, they, along with the outside groups, saw the presentation "Vision Warrior" by Scot Anthony Robinson. Mr. Robinson is a former drug and alcohol addict who is now a motivational speaker. He is also an actor and is known for his roles on All My Children, and in the movie Malcolm X. During his performance, he spoke about the effects of drugs and alcohol and why the students should steer clear of such things.

Later that evening, everyone enjoyed a Talent & Fashion show hosted by two New York Jeter's Leaders Alumni, Juan Ozuna and Betty Wiltshire. Some of the acts included singing, dancing, reading of poetry and even putting on a skit. All of the acts were performed by our very own leaders. We were also fortunate enough to have a very special guest performance following the Talent & Fashion Show. The R&B group DEEP performed a few of their hit songs for our Leaders and visiting guests.

On Wednesday afternoon, we held a Teen Summit sponsored by Goldman Sachs and were honored to have two very special guests visit us. Derek Jeter came out to serve as our event host and also gave his opinion on some of the issues discussed in the workshops. The legendary Muhammad Ali, along with his wife Lonnie, made an appearance to accept an award and pose for pictures with the Leaders and visiting students. The event was a huge success! Following the Teen Summit, the Leaders enjoyed a picnic lunch with the visiting groups before presenting their last workshop and saying goodbye to the students who supported them.

Although the outside groups participated in the conference Monday through Wednesday, the Leaders were in Chicago from Sunday through Friday, therefore, our week was a little different.

On Monday, the Leaders took part in a team building session where they participated in activities and games that helped them to work better as a team. During this three hour period, the leaders grew closer to one another and began to communicate effectively to get through different obstacles and solve problems.

Jeter's Leaders pose with Muhammad Ali and Derek Jeter. (Eileen Barroso/DerekJeter.com)

After dinner on Wednesday, the leaders were treated to a drive-in themed movie night. They watched "Glory Road" as they sat on the grass and enjoyed popcorn, candy and juice.

Thursday was the fun free day! In the morning the leaders split into two groups and went on college tours at Northwestern University and Loyola University. At each university, the students were given an information session and a campus tour.

After the college tours, the students had lunch at ESPN Zone and were given an hour of unlimited play time in the arcade. When the hour of playtime was up, the students were given an hour of shopping time where they ventured into stores such as Forever 21, Niketown, Marshall's and more.

Once all the students were back on the buses, we made our way to U.S. Cellular Field, to watch the Yankees take on the Chicago White Sox. Although there was an hour rain delay, we managed to see four innings of the game. In spite of the fact that the Yankees lost, the students enjoyed themselves very much.

By 6:45 am the next day, the New York and Kalamazoo Leaders were enjoying a McDonald's breakfast on the go as they said goodbye and wished each other well.

The conference as a whole was a huge success and many of the outside groups in attendance spoke about how much they enjoyed themselves. The Turn 2 Foundation would like to thank each group who participated and supported our conference. We hope that you took home with you a new knowledge as well as new friends. We look forward to seeing you at our next conference.

Chloé Sanchez is a New York Jeter's Leaders alumnus from the Class of 2005