We The Youth Program

We The Youth is a program of Awareness Washington County (AWC). We are a nationally recognized leadership program dedicated to strengthening and transforming Washington County by developing servant leaders. We believe that each person has leadership potential and endeavor to bring out that potential through the activities and discussions held during a 9 month class for adults. We believe young people have that same potential. We the Youth has prepared more than 300 young people for servant leadership since it began in 1995.

From September through May students attend six day long sessions and two Sunday afternoon sessions. In cooperation with the school systems, students are excused to participate in this program.

We The Youth offers this opportunity to a limited number of students every year, so it is essential that each student participate fully and complete the program. Students are required to attend at least 90% of the sessions to complete the program successfully. Individual circumstances will be considered.

The program’s curriculum is adapted each year according to the dynamics of the group but usually includes all of the following:

Community Education
Communication
Organizational Skills
Inclusion
Time Management
Understanding and the use of Learning Styles in leadership
Collaboration
Visioning
Community Service

We The Youth Candidates must:

Have the desire to develop their leadership potential
Commit to the entire program
Maintain satisfactory academic status
Maintain a satisfactory citizenship record
Have parental/guardian support to participate.

We the Youth began in 1989 with a grant from The Lilly Endowment, Inc. It is now funded through community support. The eight month leadership program is for freshmen and sophomores living in Washington County, Indiana. If you would like additional information or to apply please contact Awareness Washington County at Ph#812-896-1930 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Debbie Mildenburger
Director – We The Youth

Debbie is a graduate of the AWC class of 2008-2009. She was honored to be asked to serve on the AWC board as a new graduate. She and Marji now co-direct the adult class.

In 2010 Debbie was able to facilitate We the Youth classes with both Marji and the Director of the We the Youth program, Marcia Brown. Marcia retired at the end of this year and the board hired Debbie to be the new Director of the WTY. She is very excited about this opportunity to work with the young people of our community who want to enhance their leadership skills.

Debbie grew up in Arkansas where she received her Associates Degree from the University of Arkansas. She has learned a lot about servant leadership capacities through the work she has done with various youth groups, Relay for Life team leading and organizing, SOAR volunteer work, facilitating small group leaders at her church and many other volunteer opportunities. She is currently President of the Salem chapter of Tri Kappa, the first group to welcome her when she and her husband Fred moved to the county six years ago.

We The Youth Program

Meet Debbie