Young Leaders in Action

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Young Leaders In Action (YLIA) is a youth-led initiative of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.

Through monthly meetings and volunteer opportunities, YLIA members will enhance their leadership, communication, social, and analytical skills.

2025-26 YLIA Officers

President: William Grohne, Mt. Zion High School
Vice President: Makaylah Adams, Mt. Zion High School
Treasurer: Ryan Hubner, Meridian High School
Secretary: Ava Schilawski, Warrensburg-Latham High School
YLIA Ambassador-at-Large: Emma Ridley, Mt. Zion High School
Outreach Chair: Maren Steele, MacArthur High School
Outreach Chair: Eleanor Short, Mt. Zion High School
Outreach Co-Chair: Kylee Roberts, Mt. Zion High School
Action Chair: Lula Sloan, St. Teresa High School
Action Chair: Caroline Tanner, Mt. Zion High School
Social Media/Marketing Chair: Alayna Bickel, Meridian High School
Membership Chair: Aubrey Bickel, Meridian High School
Engagement Chair: Will Moore, Mt. Zion High School
Engagement Co-Chair: Connor Graves, Mt. Zion High School

2025-25 YLIA Participants

ARGENTA-OREANA HIGH SCHOOL

Gwendolyn Klepzig

EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL

Khloe Bovyn*

Becca Briggs*

Kalissa Crocker*

Yazmin Hill

Ashlyn Johnson*

John Morse*

Leonna Walker

MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL

Allison Allgeier*

Nathan Bivens*

Vivienne Bivens

Chloe Cook

Sophia Lozano

Ava McSherry

Jailyn Randle

Elliet Steele

Maren Steele*

Ray Schilawski

MAROA-FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL

Michelle Anison

Tulsi Dalu

Ian Fawley*

Hanna Gruenwald

Isha Joshi

McKenna Munjoy

Kaycee Neumann

Saarah Qureshi*

Hana Renfro

Arya Sojitra

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Aurelia Atwater

Alayna Bickel*

Aubrey Bickel*

Ryan Hubner*

Ethan Mendenhall

Grady Stock

Emerson Wurster

MT. ZION HIGH SCHOOL

Makaylah Adams*

Brenden Brammer

Connor Graves*

Will Grohne*

Jason Heckel*

Will Moore*

Josie Morelli

Jay Oliveira*

Emma Ridley*

Kylee Roberts*

Eleanor Short*

Caroline Tanner*

SANGAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Heath Allen

Cerryn Manion

ST. TERESA HIGH SCHOOL

Addison Eades*

Addison Johnson

Jesiah Joyner*

Claire Parrish*

Lucy Pokrzywinski

Matthew Porter*

Vivi Reising

Lula Sloan*

UNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Judah Austin

Ainsley Gerhard

Chloe Pirtle

WARRENSBURG HIGH SCHOOL

Sophie Allen

Brooklynn Burton

Herb Deetz

Sabreen Fiad

Ziyad Fiad

Avani Hawkins

Eva Kelley

Ella Meadows

Kelsey Oakley

Ava Schilawski*

Gianna Smith


*Indicates returning member

Member Expectations

  • Be a responsible steward of money allocated for our community.
  • Form opinions objectively and without bias so decisions made reflect the community’s best interest.
  • Commit to creating an inclusive environment for all members.
  • Be excited to work with other high school students across Macon County.
  • Serve as a positive representative of YLIA to the Community Foundation, fellow YLIA members and community members.

Meeting and Event Expectations

  • Attend at least seven of the nine scheduled meetings from September to May.
  • Dedicate at least four hours per month to YLIA meetings and activities.
  • Attend four or more volunteer outreach opportunities.
  • Attend at least one site visit to a potential grantee organization.
Temethia Joyner HIFC Headshot

YLIA Facilitator Temethia Joyner

Decatur native and educator Temethia Joyner is program facilitator of Macon County’s Young Leaders in Action (YLIA) group. Last fall, she began her 17th year teaching for the Decatur School District. An ABAR-certified (anti-bias, anti-racist) educator, she currently teaches at Montessori Academy for Peace. She enjoys mentoring new teachers and other educators who are interested in incorporating social justice, peace education, restorative justice and/or antiracism within their classroom communities. She also works with high school students and young adults within the community, helping them find alternate routes to their goals when circumstances have created roadblocks.

“I look forward to creating diverse experiences, facilitating the power and gift of serving others as well as helping young leaders identify their strengths and harness their true potential,” Joyner says. “And I’m excited to be a part of the Community Foundation, an organization that has the passion for serving and giving, something that has been both instilled and modeled for me by my amazing parents, Vincent and Debra Barbee.”

A Millikin University graduate, Joyner holds a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in sociology, and she earned her credential as a Montessori educator at both the lower and upper elementary levels from the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. She also is completing a master’s degree in educational leadership Eastern Illinois University. Previously, Joyner spent a year as an instructional technology coach for the Professional Development Institute and through that experience learned that her passion remained with Macon County’s youth.

“I have found that, in my experience with youth, that having a strong consistent presence, providing mutual respect and getting out of the way while providing an unwavering safety net creates an environment in which young people can grow in ways they never imagined,” Joyner says.

Joyner and her husband, Emile, have three children.

Need volunteers? YLIA is here to help!

Our Young Leaders In Action group is comprised of 71 youth from Macon County High Schools and Home School students. YLIA seeks impactful volunteer opportunities. Please send your organization's name, contact information, impact day description, location, hours, number of volunteers needed, and duties/tasks to Temethia Joyner, at tjoyner@heartofillinois.org. Please indicate whether your event is open to the public.

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