Great Lakes Youth Leadership Council (GLYLC)

Idessa, TIombe, Ashley, Ethan, Mayra

Starting in January 2008, The Great Lakes Region Youth Leadership Council (GLYLC) will be kicking off its first year with a blast! The GLYLC will be comprised of talented and compassionate youth leaders that strive to make a difference within their immediate and global communities. The GLYLC will spend its first year supporting the Roots and Shoots national campaigns and will help encourage Roots & Shoots groups to do the same. The GLYLC will assist with promoting Roots & Shoots in their schools and at various events across the Great Lakes Region. The Council will also plan and implement our fall of 2008 Youth Summit for all of our Roots & Shoots members to participate in.

Meet the Council

Tiombe Banks
High School: Lincoln Park
My interests are singing, dancing, and writing. I dance ballet and hip-hop mostly because those are the two styles of dancing that are complete opposite but still come together in a way. I’ve performed in a few showcases and the best part I adore most about them is when the performers are on stage and you look out upon the audience and see all the amazed faces. I spend my time writing poems and short stories that relate to my life. I am involved in many of school activities like, the school music and, Spirit Boosters Team, Outside of school I’m involved in Girl Scout, dancing, and I also have a job.

Ethan Johnson
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Highschool: North side College Prep
Co-leads a Roots and Shoots Club that has helped out with a number of projects that have helped out his community, the most recent being a fund raiser for the Roots and Shoots campaign, "Rebirth the Earth: Trees for Tomorrow", that raised over $1,000. Besides Roots and Shoots Club, he has participated in many other extracurricular activities at his school including baseball, bowling team, a member of Red Cross and Key Club, and being a Netaid Global Citizen Corps Leader. In past years he has also worked as an apprentice and intern at the Lincoln Park Zoo and has been a day camp counselor at a local park. Recently, he has joined the Roots and Shoots Great Lakes Youth Leadership Council and dreams of going to college and of becoming a wildlife biologist.

Mayra Palafox
Hometown: Chicago, Il
College: School of the Art Institute
My name is Mayra C. Palafox I was born In Mexico and raised in Chicago. I grew up with my family who taught me how to be strong and do the best I could. I am a junior in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I was awarded a full tuition scholarship from the school based on my portfolio and my activities in High School. Since I’ve been young I have been motivated to reach outside what is normally expected and go above with ideas and activities. I enjoy learning new things from all over the world and travel to learn about other cultures and traditions. I am also a soccer fan since I played since I was in the 3rd grade until sophomore in college. I maintain myself active through different communities and cultures. I embrace different traditions and incorporate that into my everyday life. I am an artist who looks at art as information and action and puts it out there for people to know and engage themselves through art. I can’t wait to start my own Roots &Shoots club at my College and use art as a way to educate other people.

Idessa Butler
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Highschool: AlRaby H.S.
My name is Idessa Butler and I am a 16 year old 10th grade student at Al Raby High School. Currently I take honors course that challenge my intelligence and that will help me go further into life. I also participate in the academic decathlon and the Great Lakes Youth Leadership Student Council.

Ashley Simmone McClellan
Hometown: Chicagp IL
High School: Al Raby High School,
I graduated from elementary school in 2006 and I was valedictorian of my 8th grade class. I also was in the National Junior Beta Club. In high school, I rank number 3 out of 149 students. So far I have perfect attendance and I have a 4.2 GPA I’ve co –created the 2006 Youth Leadership Conference at the Garfield Park Conservatory, and I also volunteered at a HIV and Aids conference. My goal for the future is to graduate from high school, and go to the U of I and major in Childhood Education.

Become a member of the GLYLC

Here's how to apply!

Think you're ready to become a leader? Visit our Getting Involved page to learn more and download an application.

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