Youth LEAD NC held its third consecutive, in-person, North Carolina Youth Leadership Forum (NCYLF) from July 26th through the 30th, 2025, at NC State University. We are grateful for the generous support of our donors and sponsors to make this life-changing event possible. 

Planning for NCYLF began in January of 2025 with the selection of the youth-led planning committee, which is composed of previous YLF attendees and other youth with disabilities. The committee is responsible for planning the curriculum, activities, and the selection of delegates. The delegates are selected based on their desire for community involvement, leadership opportunities, and establishing goals for their future. We do not take into consideration an individual’s disability or what accommodations they might require to participate. 

Our peer support staff included an experienced facilitator from Arizona, two assistant facilitators, four group leaders, four peer mentors, and six background staff. The majority of our staff attended YLF previously in some capacity and were selected this year to continue building their leadership skills through their work with YLF. In addition, we had more than 25 community volunteers at this year’s YLF working behind the scenes to help set up activities, run errands, push wheelchairs, guide delegates, and prepare/serve meals.