What it is? Leading is the area of development that centers on positive skills, attitudes, and behaviors around civic involvement and personal goal setting (Ibid). Youth who are civically engaged in a positive manner, willing to participate in public activity, and able to navigate the civic arena are likely to become adults who participate in civic upkeep. In this case, the term "civic" can refer to an entire city, a neighborhood, a community, and anything else that implies public environs.

What it looks like? Program activities that would increase a young person's development in leading might include the following: development of a personal plan with goals, action steps, and deadlines; resource-mapping activities in which youth take the lead in planning and carrying out a search of community resources for youth; voter registration and voting in local, state, and federal elections; participation in town hall meetings; community volunteerism such as organizing a park clean-up or building a playground; participation in a debate on an issue; training to be a peer mediator; participation in a letter-writing campaign; opportunities to meet with local and state officials and legislators; participation in a youth advisory committee within the program, school, or community; learning activities or courses about leadership principles and styles; participation in group activities that promote collaboration and team work; mentoring relationships with positive role models; and opportunities to serve in leadership roles such as club officer, board member, team captain, or coach.