Who we are
Helping youth see how national security connects to their lives.
The Nevada Youth Security Initiative (NYSI) was created to help more young people see how national security connects to their lives and communities. Nevada plays a major role in U.S. national security, but many students never learn how, and those without existing networks often miss the opportunities to find out.
NYSI changes that. Everything we offer is free.
Our mission
To turn young people from observers of public service into informed, engaged future contributors who understand the role they can play in shaping their communities and their country.
What we do
Stories, resources, and a seat in the room.
Share career stories
Professionals working in national security-related fields share how they got there, so students can picture their own path.
Provide classroom resources
Free, adaptable materials help Nevada educators bring national security and civic engagement into class.
Host conversations and events
In-person and online programs connect global issues to life in Nevada.
Why Nevada
The connection is closer to home than most students realize.
Nevada hosts critical military, defense, and nuclear security activity, and much of the state’s land is federally owned. Yet students in our communities, in cities and rural areas alike, rarely hear how that work connects to them. We start in Nevada because that connection is closest to home.
Who it’s for
Anyone ready to explore what’s possible.
Meet the founder
Leila Moassessi
Founder, Nevada Youth Security Initiative
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Leila Moassessi
Founder, Nevada Youth Security Initiative
Leila Moassessi is a Nevada-based communications professional and civic engagement advocate. She serves as Director of Communications at the National Security Forum of Nevada, where she also co-designs youth programming for its Youth Security Forum, and she founded NYSI as a J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative Alumni Fellow. She holds a B.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College.
Her work is driven by one belief: today’s youth will inherit the world shaped by today’s decision makers, so they deserve the skills, resources, and experiences to help shape it.
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