Events

INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminar


When: Saturday, January 25, 2025 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Where: 
The Palmer Building
2601 E 7th St, Charlotte NC 28204
The Carolinas Freedom Foundation (CFF) is a veteran-founded volunteer-run nonprofit organization with a mission to INSPIRE patriotic citizenship in our youth and community as we HONOR the service of veterans and first responders.

Going on 30 years, CFF has led the charge with Veteran's Day HONOR events such as the annual Freedom Breakfast and Salute to Veterans Parade in Uptown Charlotte. In addition, CFF has produced multiple youth scholarship and recognition programs, the latest of which is the INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminars.
INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminars (INSPIRE) are one-day educational opportunities free-funded to US high school students, providing them the chance to develop leadership skills via patriotic education. INSPIRE classes are led by skilled instructors and supervised by well-qualified team leaders. Classes are participatory.
The INSPIRE youth leadership seminar curriculum is designed to provide:
  1. Leadership growth by incorporating CFF's seven values: Honor/Courage/Commitment/Industry/Responsibility/Respect/Humility.
  2. Opportunity to develop a true understanding of HONOR from lessons on Patriotism, US history, the American Flag, and the US Constitution.
  3. Experience mentor-type interaction with CFF community partners such as veterans and first responders, veteran-owned businesses, and corporate volunteers.
Key Dates:
10/4/24 Information Release
CFF will utilize our relationship with JROTC instructors of Charlote-Mecklenburg and surrounding county high schools to distribute INSPIRE information directly to the students they deem it will impact the most, stressing that the program is free to the Select Student participants.

10/4/24 to 12/13/24 - Evaluation
JROTC instructors will evaluate/select their students for nomination based on the following criteria:             
For the Saturday, January 25, 2025, INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminar, CFF will accept current 10th through 12th grade high school students (typically 15-17 years old); priority is given to 12th graders.
Each school is allotted THREE (3) SLOTS and ONE (1) ALTERNATE (a total of four select students).

12/13/24 to 1/10/25 Nominations Due
Each school will submit its (4) Select Students by Full Name with a priority designation of First, Second, Third, and Alternate. Upon notification of the Select Students list, CFF will reply to the school with the required participant forms (due 12/13/24-1/10/25) and seminar details (agenda, speaker bios, dress code).

INSPIRE Youth Leadership Seminars are designed to instill confidence, build courage, and strengthen character, but above all - value HONOR. The Select Students will challenge their comfort zones in a safe, dynamic, hands-on, team environment. Participants receive a welcome packet (t-shirt, sling bag, & water bottle). Continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and snacks provided.