Leslye Long
I am a dedicated youth development professional with more than 25 years of servant leadership, designing, managing, and scaling high-impact, experiential learning programs across nonprofit and creative sectors.
About
I am a dedicated youth development professional with more than 25 years of servant leadership, designing, managing, and scaling high-impact, experiential learning programs across nonprofit and creative sectors. I am passionate about empowering the lives of youth and young adults, helping them grow personally and professionally through career readiness, STEM, and social-emotional learning initiatives.
I thrive on cross-sector collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and project-based learning that advance workforce development and positive outcomes for the next generation. I value culturally aware, restorative practices and steadfast teamwork to build opportunities and lasting impact for young people.
- 8 years' experience
- Joined April 2026
Languages
- EnglishFluent
Industry experience
- Education
- Non-Profit Organization
- Manufacturing
- Media & Entertainment
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Work experience
Strategically led the STEMWorks team of six; elevated program integrity and delivery, emphasized growth mindset, restructured staffing, instituted a new outreach model with MOU Partner agreements, and implemented fidelity and quality control measures. Standardized policies and procedures, unifying the team and contractors across multiple sites. Redesigned culturally relevant curriculum with quality STEM trades field experiences; managed consultant fidelity, grant compliance, and stakeholder partnerships. Fostered value-based, culturally sensitive program management with restorative practices and cultural astuteness to empower young adults.
Provided management to 10 Midwest high school and 2 out-of-school training sites in Chicago, Quad Cities, Memphis and Minnesota. Led recruitment, site location, partnerships, interviewing, contracts, and travel arrangements. Executed program participant rotations through every film position—from camera and sound to editing and effects—to build technical and workplace skills for college and future filmmaking careers.
Expanded services for high school and out-of-school youth/young adults in Cook County, IL, scaling from three high schools to over 30 CPS sites and tripling engagement through interactive recruitment and learning initiatives. Led the education team, overseeing instructors, program assistants, industry coordinators, and post-secondary coordinators. Navigated CPS-CTE relations, troubleshooted issues, and managed budgeting, training, evaluations, workforce development, curriculum, and educational experiences. Spearheaded marketing and outreach targeting 14–29 year-olds, promoting career opportunities across Cook County. Coordinated volunteers, secured funding, facilitated apprenticeships, and fostered essential partnerships. Acted as liaison between employers and guest speakers, coordinating career experiences with NASA, UIC, Chicagoland manufacturers, City Colleges of Chicago, and Northwestern University. Collaborated on an advanced manufacturing training program to address industry sk
Education
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