Wilkes Youth Life Development jobs and careers

About Wilkes Youth Life Development

Wilkes Youth Life Development (WYLD) is a youth-serving nonprofit based in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Our mission is to help young people develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to grow into healthy, capable adults. Founded in 2021, WYLD has become a statewide example of what youth leadership and community collaboration can achieve. Our work is guided by four pillars: modeling healthy relationships, building positive environments, providing meaningful experiences, and creating a sustainable organization through strong governance and partnerships. WYLD leads several signature initiatives, including the Teen Action Council (TAC), which empowers youth to lead prevention and community projects; Sweet Dreams of Wilkes, providing beds and books to local children; The Change Wagon, a youth-run pay-as-you-can food truck; and WYLD Lands, an outdoor learning and forest school program. We also host Lead Appalachia, a statewide youth leadership conference that brings together young leaders from across the Southeast to connect, learn, and take action in their communities. At our core, we believe that when young people are given real opportunities to lead, they don’t just shape their own futures—they shape the future of their communities.