Urban Tech's contracts and administration manager Marie Bathelmy spent three days at the site, working with site administrators as well as a group of nine students, who were trained to teach their peers using the YLA curriculum.  Ms. Freeman says she was “very impressed with the way Marie came down and could teach, especially the younger students” how to use the curriculum to its maximum potential.  She notes that students who had prior knowledge of the content had never been motivated to learn the material as thoroughly as they did in order to prepare for the lessons they gave.  The youth leaders grew quickly into their title:  “They gained confidence in themselves when they began to teach.  They learned to be better listeners, to relate to each other, and to work in teams.”  And this caused other participants to change their attitude towards learning and leadership:  “Now they want to become instructors, too,” Ms. Freeman reports. 
YLA is the first substantial leadership program to be implemented at this Weed and Seed site. 

Prior to the YLA installation, the site hosted sporadic lectures given by representatives from the Army National Guard and DEFY (Drug Education for Youth). “I really must applaud YLA and Urban Tech,” she continues.  “They know how to catch a young audience with animation, to make learning fun and engaging.”