In addition to economic development, community development remains at the forefront of Orange County’s efforts. As part of Mayor Jacobs’ initiative to connect citizens with their local government, Orange County held its second Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) in February of 2013. Geared toward student leaders from Orange County's public high schools, YLC allows students to learn about county government functions, how best to participate in community initiatives, and how to strengthen their leadership skills.
More than 200 student leaders attended the event, including members of the Youth Empowerment and Leadership Learning (YELL) Organization, run by high school students at Orange County Public Schools. Participants were challenged to post videos on Facebook, recapping what they learned at the conference and competing for a chance to "job shadow" their Mayor for a day. Close to 2,000 shared links were posted on social media, with the students’ friends and families participating in the 2013 Mayor for a Day Challenge.