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, and
College preparatory activities, including yearlong academic support.

Since its inception 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 classroom-based enrichment activities, plus individualized assistance with college applications and scholarship research. The vast majority of CAYLA students will be 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 4,000 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.

2019 Internship Sites

Government & Business

Asheville City Soccer Club
Buncombe County Family Justice Center
Buncombe County Justice Resource Center
Carolina Small Business Fund
City of Asheville City Manager’s Office
City of Asheville Community and Economic Development
City of Asheville Neighborhood and Community Engagement
City of Asheville Equity and Inclusion
City of Asheville IT Services
City of Asheville Parks & Rec
Chamber of Commerce – EDC
Hola Carolina
JMPRO TV
Lenoir Rhyne University
Mountain Xpress
UNC Asheville Athletics

Social Services/Non-Profit

Asheville Area Arts Council
Asheville City Schools Foundation
Asheville Community Theatre
Buncombe Alternatives Teen Court
ChildrenFirst – Communities in Schools
Nuestro Centro
Pisgah Legal
RHA/Partnership for Substance Free Youth
SPARC Foundation
YTL

Health

ABIPA
Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers
French Broad Pediatrics
Gentle Mothering Doula Services
MAHEC
WNC Birth Center

Summer Internships

CAYLA students are placed at summer internships with City and County departments and with local businesses and nonprofits
Schedule: Four days per week, 4 hours per day for a total of approximately 16 hours (specific times will depend on each job site)

Weekly Workshops – Summer

CAYLA students are required to attend mandatory Friday workshops on topics ranging from leadership development, team-building, financial literacy, college prep and career exploration. The theme for 2019 is “Feeling Seen: Conversations about Race and Identity.”
Students will develop team Action Plans that can create positive change in our community.
Students are paid their hourly wage for attendance at the workshops.

Writing Assignments and Leadership Development – Summer

CAYLA students are required to complete weekly reading and writing assignments as assigned by CAYLA program director.
CAYLA students participate in the annual Me2We Conference in conjunction with the ASCORE Leadership Council, the Center for Diversity Education, the AVID Summer Bridge Program, MANOS, the JCC and Youth/OutRight.

Community Service