D50 After Dark Podcast
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Highlights
(0:00) Intro
(0:34) In this timely episode, Mickey interviews District 50 leaders in the youth programs.
(1:21) Mickey introduces Hitesh Bhalala as the Youth Leadership Chair.
(3:05) Hitesh explains Gavel Clubs are like Toastmasters Clubs but for your, ages 10 – 18.
(6:40) Jen shares her experience starting youth programs in 1993.
(9:06) Nikki describes the Youth Leadership Program as a four-week mentoring course.
(12:56) Nikki explains that the Youth Leadership Program serves as a gateway to Gavel Clubs.
(15:01) Nikki highlights the main benefits: increased confidence and positive self-talk skills.
Summary
This conversation captures the vitality of Youth Leadership Programs and Gavel Clubs in District 50 Toastmasters. Host Mickey Bennett interviews Jen Hoch and Nikki Jones in studio, along with pre-recorded insights from Youth Leadership Chair Hitesh Bhalala. The discussion reveals how these programs help children ages 10 – 18 develop crucial communication and leadership skills through structured, engaging sessions.
Jen shares her 15-year journey running a thriving Gavel Club in Plano with about 17 members who meet twice monthly. Nikki details the transformative four-week Youth Leadership Program that teachers everything from speech construction to stage presence. What comes through strongly is the remarkable transformation these volunteers witness — from shy kids speaking in “little voices” on day one to confident speakers using the full stage with proper gestures by the end of the program.
The conversation highlights how the programs build confidence for school presentations and debates while teaching valuable life skills like positive self-talk. As Hitesh notes, since 2015 he has helped start several Gavel Clubs and witnessed “tremendous transformation in students’ public speaking as well as leadership skills.”
The collective enthusiasm of host Mickey and his guests shows with frequent affirming phrases and shared stories, as they discuss impacting hundreds of young people in the community.
District 50 Toastmasters’ webpage about Youth Leadership Programs is https://d50tm.org/pq/youth-leadership/
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