Our YELLS youth recently brought the community together through youth-led hot cocoa stands at our Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks locations. Long before the first cup was poured, our youth spent weeks learning, planning, and practicing what it truly means to lead with purpose.
In the month leading up to the hot cocoa stand, students at both our Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks locations stepped into their roles as leaders. Guided by the unit theme We Are Leaders, youth worked week by week to plan an event that was about more than just hot cocoa. It was about connection, kindness, and showing up for their community.
During Week 1, students began by exploring what leadership looks and feels like. They tasted and voted on different hot cocoa flavors while learning how to make thoughtful decisions as a group. Youth also created their own “recipe for a leader,” assigning key leadership traits, like kindness, confidence, and responsibility to ingredients. Through discussion and reflection, students identified what it means to be a strong YELLS leader and how their actions can positively impact others.
In Week 2, the focus shifted to communication and professionalism. Students learned about body language, clear communication, and how to confidently share their ideas. They practiced their YELLS pitch in preparation for the stand, created colorful flyers, and wrote proposal letters to gain support and secure locations for their event. These activities helped youth build real-world skills while taking ownership of their project.
Week 3 focused on leading by example and introduced students to the full project planning process, giving them the tools to turn ideas into action. Youth learned each step, from identifying their “why” and defining success with SMART goals, to budgeting, gathering resources, and building a team. They also practiced leading by example by creating paper flowers to hand out to neighbors as acts of kindness, inviting them personally to the hot cocoa stand, and spreading positivity throughout the community.
In the final week of preparation, students focused on positive leadership and teamwork. They set goals for the event, applied for specific jobs, created posters, and practiced their roles so they would feel confident and prepared on the big day. By the time the stand arrived, our youth had not only planned an event, but they had grown as servant leaders.
When the day of the hot cocoa stand arrived, YELLS youth were ready. Students jumped into action as soon as they arrived, confidently stepping into the job roles they had practiced and prepared for in the weeks leading up to the event. Every role played an important part in creating a welcoming, organized, and joyful experience for the community.
Youth leaders served as recruiters, walking through the neighborhood to personally invite neighbors to join. Promoters waved posters and led energetic YELLS chants, spreading excitement and drawing people in. Greeters welcomed each guest with a smile, while connectors helped introduce neighbors to one another, sparking conversations and building new relationships. The hot cocoa team kept cups full and warm, monitors tracked attendance, smiles, and connections made, and the farewell crew made sure every neighbor left feeling appreciated with a kind word and a heartfelt thank you.
As soon as students were in place, the stand came alive. Neighbors stopped by, community leaders and teachers showed their support, and even a few four-legged friends joined in the fun. Laughter, conversation, and shared moments filled the space as youth leaders brought their vision to life, serving more than hot cocoa but creating connection, belonging, and positivity in the heart of the community.
By the end of the event, YELLS youth proudly saw their hard work pay off. Together, they reached and surpassed their goals, welcoming over 100 neighbors to the stand, counting more than 200 smiles, and witnessing countless connections formed between community members. Students beamed as they watched their planning come to life and felt the excitement of leading an event of their own. Seeing teachers, community leaders, and neighbors show up in support made the experience even more meaningful. Most of all, YELLS leaders expressed their joy in serving others and creating a welcoming space for the community, proving that when young people are given the opportunity to lead, they rise with confidence and purpose.
