Local youth, ages 12-17, now have a place to go in Richmond Hill to develop communication and leadership skills through experience.

Toastmasters International, which has a club that meets at Magnolia Manor on the Coastal on the first and third Fridays of every month, has organized a youth leadership program.

Teen Hanna Suddath began auditing the meetings after her parents joined, and soon club members recognized a need for a youth leadership program. An open house was held at the Suites at Station Exchange in November to discuss the upcoming program. Now, interested youth will be meeting one Saturday a month for the next seven months. Participation provides middle- and high-schoolers with a place to practice speaking and leadership skills.

Suddath, along with local Toastmasters members Lin Ervin and Mike Thompson, appeared on the Mid-Morning Live show on WTOC in December to inform the community of this opportunity, and they have been invited back in March to talk about its progress.

It’s still not too late to sign up for this free program. Contact Ervin, program coordinator at lin ervin@yahoo.com or call him at 912-604-4073 for further information.