What's It All About?

Dr. Ralph Joseph

Twenty years ago, Dr. Ralph Joseph M.D. envisioned a program that would equip young people for the task of providing leadership in their communities.  After consultation with Lawrence County leaders, the Ralph Joseph Youth Leadership Program was given birth.

R.J.Y.L.P. is a program designed to teach leadership skills and foster leadership characteristics in the youth of Lawrence County (Arkansas). Students from each of the schools in the county are selected based on an application and essay and they complete the program in the fall semester of their Jr. year. Sessions include Communications/Public Speaking, Ropes Course (trust building activities), Personality Assessment, Etiquette Luncheon, Decision Making, Diversity and a Community Project is developed and completed by each school's participants for their school and/or community.

Then the procedures of the program are as follows: 

  • Committee meets in Feb. each year to begin planning for the new class
  • Application packets go to the schools in early Mar. (they have about a 2 week window of time to complete them)
  • Applications are due back to the committee (usually) the Friday before Spring Break 
  • Class is selected by the committee in mid-April
  • Students and school administration are notified of the selection early to mid-May
  • Program begins mid-August and ends with a graduation ceremony in mid to late Nov.
  • Sessions normally are held on Wed. during the school day (with a few occasional exceptions)
  • Sessions are normally held every two weeks (with an occasional exception)
  • There is a mandatory trip to Little Rock in early to mid-Sept.
  • Program meets at each of the school campuses in Lawrence County at least once and then other locations within the county.