Program History & Origins

The Minnesota Young American Leaders Program (MYALP) was founded in 2019 and is led and operated by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Integrative Leadership (the Center) in close alignment with the national Young American Leaders Program (YALP), founded in 2015 and led by Harvard Business School (HBS) U.S. Competitiveness Project. 

Launched out of a partnership between the Center, HBS, and the now-sunset Itasca Project, MYALP convenes every May and brings together leaders from across the for-profit, government, and non-profit sectors who are committed to working across sectors to help their communities and our region prosper inclusively.

Connection to the National Program (YALP)

MYALP shares themes as well as selected faculty and content with national program.

  • Research Foundation: The national Program grew out of Harvard Business School’s ongoing research on U.S. competitiveness and its foundational conclusion that cross-sector collaboration at the city level is key to advancing our shared prosperity. 
  • Statewide Focus: MYALP complements the national Program by providing an opportunity to focus more specifically on exchanging knowledge and tools to advance collaboration for shared prosperity in our cities, region, and across our state. 
  • Network: Alumni join a network of over 440 Minnesota leaders and connect to a national network of cross-sector leaders spanning 14 U.S. cities.
University of Minnesota, Center for Integrative Leadership (MYALP), Itasca Project via Greater MSP Partnership, Harvard Business School (YALP)