Lead DSM announced the graduation of the Youth Leadership Initiative Class of 2023. The class consists of 31 student leaders from 19 Central Iowa high schools. YLI provides high school students with leadership experiences and community connections to boost confidence and encourage community involvement. The students met monthly from September 2022 to April 2023, exploring leadership topics and learning about regional opportunities and issues. Kelly Royal, program manager for YLI, said the program challenges students to use their enhanced leadership skills to make a positive impact on the community. One participant, Anna Bechtel, a junior at Valley High School, said that although participants all went through the same program, they each took away different elements that were personally relevant. The graduation ceremony took place on April 27. The Youth Leadership Initiative is sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Sammons Financial Group, Nelson Construction and Farm Bureau Financial Services. For more information about the Youth Leadership Initiative graduates, visit LeadDSM or contact Royal at kroyal@gdmli.com.