CAYLA

CAYLA logo

Students Kamora Codrington and Deja Marvels white water rafting with the Nantahala Outdoor Center

Happening Now

The City of Asheville is now accepting applications for the C.A.Y.L.A program until January 15, 2024. Click here to apply now.


About CAYLA

The City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA)
is committed to providing its students with:

  • A meaningful summer work experience,
  • Leadership development through seminars and community service.
  • College preparatory activities, including year-long academic support. 

Started in 2007, CAYLA has been nationally recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In 2011, CAYLA was honored with the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service.

CAYLA is an integral part of the City’s ‘Grow Our Own’ initiative, as envisioned by the Asheville City Council. The City is committed to giving Asheville’s young people the opportunity to stay and work in Asheville, as well as to have valuable work experiences that will advance their future careers wherever they go. The program is a partnership with the Asheville City Schools Foundation and is supported in part by Buncombe County.

CAYLA recruits, trains, and places local high school students at meaningful summer jobs with the City and with participating agencies, in addition to providing weekly day-long workshops on financial literacy, leadership, career exploration, and 21st Century job skills. CAYLA engages its students throughout the school year by offering group-based enrichment activities, plus individualized assistance with college applications and scholarship research. The vast majority of CAYLA students will be the first in their families to attend college. CAYLA students must be enrolled in Asheville City Schools or one of the Buncombe County High Schools. To strengthen their connection to the community, CAYLA students learn about civic responsibility through frequent community service projects that they themselves plan and lead. The CAYLA students have become positive role models for their peers and, just as importantly, for the many children with whom they interact, including their younger siblings and neighbors. The CAYLA students have completed more than 4,300 hours of community service with agencies including MANNA FoodBank, IRL at Asheville Middle School, Big Brothers Big Sisters, ABCCM Women and Children’s Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Brother Wolf, and Eliada Homes, among others.

Accomplishments

  • Total scholarship money (merit) awarded to CAYLA 2007-2023 = $2,174,074
  • Total community service hours since 2007: 4,300
  • 100% of CAYLA seniors have been accepted to college

Program Activities

Weekly Workshops – Summer

  • CAYLA students are required to attend mandatory Friday workshops.  Friday workshop topics range from: 
    • Leadership Development
    • Team-Building
    • Financial Literacy
    • College Preparation 
    • Career Exploration. 
  • Students are paid their hourly wage for attendance at the workshops.

Community Service – Academic Year

CAYLA students are involved in numerous community service activities throughout the academic year.

Internships – Summer

Melanie Arias at her summer internship site with Blue Ridge Power.

CAYLA students are placed at summer internships with City and County departments, local businesses, and nonprofits.

Please Note: CAYLA students are required to work  4 hours per day, Monday- Thursday, for approximately 16 hours per week. (Specific times will depend on each job site) ***Hours can be adjusted to accommodate Friday workshops***

2023 Internship Sites  

  • Delta House 
  • City of Asheville Parks & Rec
  • Carla & Company Real Estate Services
  • Slay The Mic
  • Blue Ridge Power
  • MAHEC
  • Verner Day Care Learning Center
  • Amiliana’s Hair Studio
  • The Plug Chiropractic
  • RHA Health Services
  • Christine Avery Learning Center
  • City of Asheville Planning & Urban Design
  • JD Ellison 
  • Van Winkle Law Firm
  • AVL Chamber of Commerce
  • City of Asheville City Manager’s Office
  • BC Family Justice Center
  • ABIPA- Asheville Buncombe Institute for Parity Achievement
  • City of Asheville Community and Economic Development
  • City of Asheville Capital Projects
  • McGuire Wood & Bissette Law Firm
  • Smile Starters
  • Asheville Beauty Bar
  • City of Asheville IT Department
  • YWCA
  • Horizon’s Carolina Day
  • Kissed by Tasha Hair Salon
  • Black’s Orthodontist

Local Government Internship Sites 

  • City of Asheville
  • Capital Projects
  • City Manager’s Office
  • Community and Economic Development
  • IT 
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Planning & Urban Design
  • Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Non-Profit Internship Sites

  • ABIPA-Asheville Buncombe Institute for Parity Achievement
  • Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Christine Avery Learning Center
  • Delta House
  • MAHEC
  • RHA Health Services
  • YWCA

Private Sector Internship Sites

  • Asheville Beauty Bar
  • Amiliana’s Hair Studio
  • Black’s Orthodontist
  • Blue Ridge Power
  • Carla & Company Real Estate Services
  • Horizon’s Carolina Day
  • JD Ellison
  • Kissed by Tasha Hair Salon
  • McGuire Wood & Bissette Law Firm
  • Slay The Mic
  • Smile Starters
  • The Plug Chiropractic
  • Van Winkle Law Firm
  • Verner Day Care Learning Center

Contact Information

Promise Boseman – Workforce Development Coordinator/ CAYLA Programs Director | 828-641-1554

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