Youth Leadership Program (in partnership with Toastmasters)

The Library’s Youth Leadership Program (offered in partnership with Toastmasters), offers teens ages 14–18 an opportunity to develop public-speaking potential.

The Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is designed as an eight-session, workshop-style program which enables teen participants ages 14–18 the opportunity to develop public speaking potential through practical experience and guidance from professionals and practiced speakers. Over the course of eight meetings, the club members will have a chance to work on various aspects of public speaking and leadership. Each meeting features a speech and lesson from a member of one of the Toastmasters groups in Paris. Teen club members will each give two original speeches throughout the year, and will serve a role in the club (President, Vice President, Secretary, etc.). During these meetings, friendly, constructive encouragement and feedback will be given to members from the Toastmasters and fellow teen club members.

The YLP is led by the teen participants themselves with the guidance and support of Toastmasters from several groups in the Paris area and the American Library in Paris’ Children and Teens Services Manager. The Toastmasters Coordinators for the 2023–2024 YLP are Ashish Gupta and Afton LeGendre. Toastmasters participate at each meeting to coach and help evaluate.

Applications for this club were open through 31 July 2023, and will open again in the spring for the 2024–2025 YLP.

Questions about the Library’s collections and programs for teens can be sent to Children and Teens Services Manager Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

We are an independent, nonprofit organization. With your continued support, we are able to provide over 200 programs each year for ages 0–18. If you would like to support the Library, you can donate here to help sustain this vital institution, and programs such as this one.