(Washington, DC)  Youth Leaders in the 2007 Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute (MYLI) will begin their summer program by collecting 1,000 canned goods to donate to the Capital Area Food Bank.  The food drive will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2007, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library at 9th and G Streets, NW, between 10:30 am and 12 noon.

The canned food drive marks the first of four community service events that the young leaders will host during the “2007 Summer of Service” efforts.  Youth participating in the MYLI summer program will be required to sign a pledge to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service during the upcoming school year. The program’s goals are to cultivate civic-minded citizens and to engage young residents in community service projects.

EVENT	COORDINATED INFORMATION
WHAT:	Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute (MYLI) Summer Canned Food & Community Service Hours Pledge Drive
WEHRE:	Martin Luther King, Jr., Library 9th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC
WHEN:	Thursday, June 28, 2007 10:30 am – 12 noon

The Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute (MYLI) is a year-round program designed to train District youth in the concepts of leadership and self-development. The program consists of an innovative four-level tier: Alpha level, which focuses on personal growth and development skills; Beta level, which focuses on community development; Delta level, which deals with work readiness, life skills, and career exploration; and Omega level, which concentrates on practicum and internships. For more information on the MYLI, contact the Department of Employment Services’ Office of Youth Programs at (202) 698-3492.