About MBYLI

Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute

image1 (1)The Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute (MBYLI) is a four-level year round leadership training and development program for young people in the District of Columbia, ages 14-19. The MBYLI training model emphasizes practical hands-on experience and a holistic approach to developing leaders of the 21st century.

Each of the four levels of the MBYLI training model, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omega, has a different focus area:
• The Alpha level focuses on personal growth and development skills
• The Beta level focuses on community development
• The Delta level focuses on college exploration and preparation
• The Omega level focuses on life skills, career exploration, and places Youth Leaders in internships

Common training themes throughout the program include:
• Team Building Skills
• Personal Development
• Communication Skills
• Employability Skills
• Public Speaking
• City Government Structure
• Community Service
• College/Career Preparation

New participants are recruited in the spring for the MBYLI Summer Intensive Training component. Youth Leaders are selected through a rigorous screening process. The summer portion of our training is conducted for six weeks on a local college campus. It includes training seminars, community labs, youth government elections, cultural events, guest speakers and open discussion forums.

The School Year component of MBYLI focuses on applying those skills learned during the summer. Activities include community service projects, general body meetings, youth related forums, and additional leadership development training. MBYLI Youth Leaders are also called upon to represent the youth of the District of Columbia at events throughout the city, the country, and the world.