History
The Young Leaders' Academy concept was brought to Baton Rouge by Mr. John Littleford. Mr. Littleford served as headmaster of a private school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he saw first hand how members of the Youth Leadership Academy involved in leadership training. The Youth Leadership Academy was an outgrowth of Inroads, Inc. The mission of INROADS is to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.

Taken by this regimented approach to developing leadership within minority youths, Mr. Littleford brought and introduced the concept to the Baton Rouge business community in 1993. He tirelessly sold the idea to any business leader who would listen. Eventually, the business community was intrigued by the idea and brought the public school system and the community foundation to the table as partners. This strategic partnership created the Young Leaders' Academy of Baton Rouge, Inc. Thus, John Littleford's visionary leadership combined with his perseverance and tenacity merited him with the title of founder.

To fully bring this concept to fruition, John brought the philanthropic, business, and educational communities together. This was no easy task and is a testament to the Littleford Spirit. Accordingly, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation under the leadership of Mr. John Davies, the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System under the direction of Superintendent Bernard Weiss, and the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of Jimmy Lyles are also afforded the titles of founding partners.

To sell the concept to the Baton Rouge community, Kirt Bennett was hired as the first Executive Director. His charge was to be an evangelist for the Academy building financial support from within the business sector and community support within the schools, churches and homes. Bennett hired three educators and recruited 45 third grade boys from six public schools in the heart of the inner city to start the first class of the YLA in June on 1994. Today the Academy still stands strong on this foundation.

Overwhelmingly, Baton Rouge business leaders state that they invest heavily in the YLA because they have an obligation to invest in their future workforce. As one local CEO put it clearly, "we see no shortage of young black males in the courtrooms being adjudicated, we now need to work to prepare as many as possible for the boardrooms. The YLA affords us that opportunity."

Compelling reasons for our existence.
According to the Village Foundation

To understand the magnitude of the problems facing many young African-American males, consider the snapshot national statistics and how they underscore the need for the YLA. To put them in context, it is important to know that African-Americans make up just 13 percent of the total U.S. population, and African-American males make up 47 percent of the African-American population, under 6 percent of the total population.

• Of African-American families living in poverty, 80% are headed by African-American females;

• Without prospects for steady jobs, young black males are less likely to marry and form stable families; two thirds of African-American babies are born out of wedlock; 

• For African-American males aged 16 to 19, the 1997 unemployment rate was 36.5 percent, compared to 14.4 percent for white males in the same age range. 

• More than 26 percent of all African-American families live in poverty compared to 6 percent of white families.

• It is eight times more likely that an African-American male will go to jail than a white male; and

• African-American males represent over 50 percent of the total male prison population, yet only 4.8 percent of all African-American males are incarcerated.

The objectives of the Academy include

 
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