Recognize an Extraordinary Youth Development Worker in Northeast Ohio- Winner Receives $1,000!
Nominations Now Open for the 2025 Brenda Stark Award
As we continue to celebrate Workforce Development Month, nominations are now open for the 2025 Brenda Stark Award! The Brenda Stark Award honors a youth development worker operating in the nonprofit arena. The winner will receive $1,000 and be recognized at a special in-person event later this year. Youth Development Workers help youth navigate the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood by coordinating and/or directly providing services that:
Support academic achievement
Promote career awareness and exploration
Foster positive relationships
Enhance job readiness
Nurture ethical behavior during the transition to adulthood
This award is named in honor of a valuable member of Youth Opportunities Unlimited history — Brenda Stark. For over two decades, Brenda exemplified her role as a Youth Development Worker to an extraordinary degree. By the time of her passing, Brenda had positively affected the lives of thousands and had profoundly influenced how youth development work is achieved (Learn more about Brenda Stark’s legacy).
Established in 2021, this award recognizes an exemplary non-profit youth development worker who embodies hope, creativity, and an unwavering belief in the potential of young people — the qualities that defined Brenda Stark. Nominations are now open and may be submitted through Oct. 10, 2025.
Eligibility
Currently employed by a nonprofit organization that works with young people (ages 14-24) operating in Northeast Ohio.
Primary responsibilities center around youth development
Nominators must be currently working at the same organization as the nominee (colleague, supervisor, director, etc.) or know the nominee’s work through organizational collaboration.
Award Recognition & Prize
The winner will receive $1,000
Recognition at a special in-person event
Featured on the Y.O.U. website
Evaluation Criteria
Nominators should provide specific examples on how the nominee’s work meets at least three of the following criteria:
Provides or coordinates services to youth that may include support for academic achievement, promotion of career awareness and exploration, development of positive relationships, preparation for employment and development of ethical behavior.
Equips young people to lead and serve.
Utilizes best practices that support and nurture inclusivity and human resilience.
Models what highly effective youth development workers do.
Engages the community at-large to support youth development initiatives.
Demonstrates positive impact on lives of young people.
Demonstrates high level of leadership, professionalism, and integrity in the field of youth development.
Strengthens the field of youth work by providing quality training opportunities for youth workers to maximize their investment in young people.
Demonstrates exceptional commitment to public service and/or educational leadership.
Selection Process
The Brenda Stark Award Committee will review all submissions and select this year’s honoree. All nominees will be highlighted on the Y.O.U. website. The winner will be recognized at a special in-person event later this year.