Investing in Tomorrow: How Our Youth Leadership Summit Is Equipping the Next Generation of Leaders

What happens when two like-minded community businesses join forces to invest in the next generation? You get a ripple effect that goes far beyond one night, creating confidence, character, and leadership skills that will serve young people for a lifetime.

On June 24, Shapes Dance and Acro Studio and the Burger Bar & Dari Maid proudly partnered to host the first-ever Youth Leadership Summit in Carrollton, Missouri. This free event was designed to equip youth ages 15–25 — many of whom work as employees in our local businesses — with the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in life and work.

In today’s world, our teens and young adults face an enormous amount of pressures. Digital distractions, overwhelming choices, and rapid changes can leave them unsure about who they are and what they can accomplish. That’s why Heather and Jon Deshayes, owners of the Dari Maid and Burger Bar (a 50-year legacy in Carrollton), and I felt so passionate about joining together to pour into these young leaders. We recognized that their journey toward personal excellence, resilience, and leadership needed a boost — and we were excited to provide it.

Our Youth Leadership Summit theme focused on attitude, effort, and integrity — three important qualities that shape successful leaders in any field. Whether our teens and young adults are working the drive-thru window, leading a dance class, performing on a stage, or someday running their own businesses, these three traits build the foundation for personal and professional growth.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Tim Crowley as our keynote presenter for the night who focused on the "Big Three" of attitude, effort and integrity. Dr. Crowley is known across the region for his dynamic style and meaningful message. He challenged our attendees to think bigger, push harder, and believe in themselves. His presentation blended fun leadership games, personal reflection, and inspiring life lessons to help participants build confidence and stretch beyond their comfort zones.

One of the concepts that especially resonated with the teens was the idea of 212 degrees. Water is hot at 211 degrees, but it only boils at 212. That one extra degree creates a powerful change, turning water into steam — enough to move an engine or change its state completely. In the same way, our young leaders learned that they have to push just one degree beyond their comfort zone to experience growth. That moment of choosing courage, even when it feels hard, is where transformation happens.

Dr. Crowley’s gift is helping people see what’s possible — and that was exactly what our students needed to hear. Our future business owners, artists, managers, teachers, and leaders were reminded that they are capable, worthy, and powerful when they choose a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and a life of integrity.

As a business owner, I see firsthand how these traits matter. Our studio is filled with talented young people who are learning to lead with confidence, mentor others, and model excellence every single day. Likewise, Heather and Jon Deshayes have a team of 38 teenagers working at their restaurant. These teens are developing customer service skills, teamwork, and resilience in a fast-paced environment — skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

But talent alone isn’t enough. As community leaders, we have a responsibility to help them develop life skills, not just job skills. That’s what the Youth Leadership Summit was truly about. It was a reminder that our community is stronger when we pour into the next generation — when we give them tools, resources, and a sense of belonging to navigate a complex world.

We saw incredible moments that night: a shy participant who bravely stepped up to share during a group activity, a young employee who admitted their fear of public speaking but tried anyway, friends encouraging each other to play leadership games that took them outside their comfort zones. These small moments add up. They build a stronger sense of self, a stronger team, and eventually, a stronger community.

As Heather perfectly put it, “These kids have so much more pressure with the digital age — it’s hard to navigate. This seminar hopefully gave them tools to be successful in business and in life.”

And that’s the heart of it. Whether they become entrepreneurs, engineers, or artists, the young people we invest in today will shape tomorrow’s world. Their ability to lead with courage, treat others with respect, and rise after setbacks will impact their families, their workplaces, and their communities for years to come.

If you missed the summit this year, don’t worry — we’re just getting started. Our mission to build strong young leaders will continue through programs like this, mentorship opportunities, and community collaborations. Investing in youth leadership is an investment that pays dividends far into the future, not just for the young people themselves, but for all of us who live, work, and dream alongside them.

A huge thank you to Dr. Tim Crowley for bringing his expertise and energy to Carrollton, to Heather and Jon Deshayes for sharing their vision and resources to make this event possible, to our sponsors and to every parent, teacher, coach, and business owner who supports youth development. It truly takes all of us!

Let’s keep working together to build young people with confidence, grit, and integrity. Let’s keep showing them that they matter — that their attitude makes a difference, their effort is noticed, and their integrity will carry them far.

Together, we can grow a generation of unstoppable young leaders who will leave their positive mark on the world.