Student Leadership Services Inc

Student Leadership Services, Inc. (SLS) is a Michigan-based non-profit dedicated to ensuring our youth remain safe, healthy, and alcohol and drug free. SLS accomplishes this through innovative student-led prevention programs, trainings and events for students and adults. Since its inception in 1982, SLS has empowered students and adults to create safe, supportive, interactive and engaging student-led environments so that they can lead change in their communities.

During the 2022 - 2023 school year, SLS was able to reach 13,391 students from 51 schools in Michigan and one school in Wisconsin! These students heard safe driving messages, helped students learn and practice key skills such as: decision making, resistance, assertiveness, time management, and all eleven Executive Functioning Skills. 

When it comes to student-led prevention and youth development, we focus relentlessly on three key strategies.

1. Listen to students. Above all, youth voice matters. Students want to make their schools and communities better. They want to help their friends stay safe and they undoubtedly know what the most pressing problems are. We ask, then listen. 
2. Engage students. SLS students aren’t helpers in adult-created projects. They decide what is meaningful to them and create their own projects, seeking adult guidance and expertise as needed. 
3. Coach students in leadership skills and then let them lead. Youth have the desire, the capacity and the passion, but they don’t yet have all the knowledge and skills. Therefore, we work alongside students to provide them with the education and tools they need to bring their projects to life. Then, we give them a platform to implement their ideas and we get out of the way and let them lead.