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The future of the National Leadership Conference looks bright in 2022.The American Youth Foundation is pleased to return to the full eight-day conference, welcoming first-year participants once again and offering more opportunities to experience the mission of best self and balanced living. NLC 2022 will take place June 11 to 18. Registration will open in late 2021.

Next year will also see three longtime NLC staff answer the call to leadership. Miniwanca Director of Programs Michael Harter and NLC Central Staff Members Erin O’Brien and Beth Wilson will serve as NLC co-directors, working together to enhance the conference experience for all staff and participants.

Erin has been with NLC 23 consecutive years, as a member of the Leaders for a New Beginning class, a mentor, and staff.

“I am so excited to collaborate with our team to create a conference experience that brings joy, connection, and inspiration to all staff and participants and embodies the AYF’s mission and core values,” she said.

Beth Wilson has been a participant, mentor, and staff member since 1989. “I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without NLC in my life,” she said. “As a director this year I hope to be part of changing lives for the better and watching these young adults flourish.”

Michael also has more than 20 years experience with NLC, graduating as a member of To Give Light in 1998 and mentoring classes at Merrowvista and Miniwanca.

“I am ready to help bring this community back together and build on the quality of youth development that happened in summer 2021,” Michael said. “The NLC community is such an important part of the larger AYF family, and I feel so lucky to help move our community forward.”

The leadership team’s first step is to build the 2022 staff team. Applications will open in mid-November, and they encourage all interested individuals to apply.

As the AYF continues to navigate evolving pandemic conditions, it will share testing, masking, and vaccination protocols for staff and participants. Visit ayf.com for more information about rates, scholarships, registration and more as it develops, and interested participants are encouraged to sign up for our email list to receive updates as soon as they become available.

As the AYF continues to navigate evolving pandemic conditions, it will share testing, masking, and vaccination protocols for staff and participants. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email nlc@ayf.com. Thank you for your continued support!