What is Cultural Leadership?

Mission Statement: Cultural Leadership exists to create a more just and equitable community by educating high school students to recognize and resolve issues of privilege and injustice through the lens of the African American and Jewish experience. Our students develop leadership skills, build relationships, facilitate dialogues and create change in their circles of influence.

Cultural Leadership is a nonprofit educational, leadership program for high school students that is producing a future generation of activists, community organizers and "troublemakers of the best kind". Our students learn to dispel stereotypes and promote dialogue, cooperation, understanding and mutual respect between all peoples. Cultural Leadership students participate in a year-long program of: educational classes and cultural activities to teach them about their own and each other's race, religion, culture, and history and about institutional racism, power, privilege and prejudice; study/travel to places of significance in the U.S. - NYC, DC, Atlanta, all over Alabama and Mississippi, Little Rock and Memphis; and learning fundraising, public speaking and facilitation skills.

Why was Cultural Leadership created?

Though much progress has been made with respect to racism and inequality, our nation continues to be deeply affected by our own history and the current condition and treatment of many minority groups. St. Louis, specifically, is one of the most racially segregated metro areas in the country with too many people suffering the inherent consequences. Clearly there is a dire need for future leaders to address the many issues our communities face. Cultural Leadership was created to train our young people with the knowledge and skills to fight social injustice.

Cultural Leadership was modeled after similar programs in Washington DC (Operation Understanding DC) and Philadelphia (Operation Understanding). These programs are dedicated to rekindling the historic alliance between African Americans and Jews-two groups that have worked side by side in this country to bring about enormous social change. In our inception, Cultural Leadership shared this mission. We have since expanded on that mission and now train high school students to create a more just an equitable community through the lens of the African American and Jewish experience. We see the history of these two groups as an excellent foundation for understanding the effects of oppression and privilege and for learning how to fight social injustice. Thus, our curriculum continues to focus, in part, through the African American and Jewish experience and the majority, though not all, of our students identify as one or both of those two groups.

Who may participate in Cultural Leadership?

Cultural Leadership is open to high-school sophomores and juniors in the St. Louis region who have demonstrated curiosity, maturity, a sense of civic responsibility, and leadership potential. Our curriculum focuses, in part, through the lens of the African American and Jewish experience and the majority of our students identify as either Jewish or African American. However, we welcome applications from anyone interested in becoming an activist of civil rights and social justice. Up to 36 students are chosen to participate each year.

What part do parents play in the program?

Parents/guardians meet approximately every six weeks while their children are in the program. They experience some of the highlights of students' programs. This parallel curriculum is designed to help parents better support their children and guide them through this experience and the changes they experience as a result. However, participation in these programs is not required.

How much does it cost?

Parents/Guardians are required to pay a program fee of $400. Additionally, students are asked to raise $200 for Cultural Leadership from at least three different sources. Both of these payments must be turned in by May 30th. We accept one payment or monthly payments. No student will be denied participation solely because of an inability to pay.

What are the outcomes for students in the program?

After completing the program, students join an ever-growing national network of youth committed to fighting ignorance, teaching understanding, and promoting lifelong learning.

• To promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding by immersing youth in diverse cultural experiences, dispelling ethnic and cultural stereotypes, and encouraging cooperation, mutual respect, and dialogue,
• To understand the causes and consequences of social injustice;
• To provide direct exposure to leaders of social movements as mentors and models of social activism to demonstrate how youth can become agents of social change
• To develop leadership competence through use of practical skills training, including instruction on public speaking, facilitation, community organizing and working with the media
• To initiate change in their families, schools, neighborhoods and other circles of social influence.

What kinds of successes have you had?

We have seen successes in several areas. Most directly, the students who graduate from Cultural Leadership emerge better educated, more curious, and more confident in themselves. And our students get involved; a Jewish alumnus is a member of a Latino empowerment group and a Black alumna is on the board of Hillel at her college. A group of alumni organized a diversity roundtable at their high school. Other students are starting tutoring programs and voter education and registration efforts. As a program, Cultural Leadership is also enjoying recognition by the community. We have been featured in print, radio, and TV reporting; and have earned several community awards such as Youth Organization of the Year by the St. Louis Argus.

• Cece and Cydney, both Black, started Diversity Clubs at their all white high schools.
• Emily planned and carried out Mix It Up Day at her high school.
• Ron lives in Israel and is in a Muslim Jewish dialogue.
• Jillian was awarded the community leader award by the local YWCA.
• Tyjuan attends Brandeis University having recently graduated from their Transition Year Program (TYP). He is the first in his family to go to college and is at Brandeis because of Cultural Leadership.
• Maurice just recently started his year at Brandeis in the same TYP program. He is also the first in his family to attend college.
• Jeremy produced a documentary on civil rights and lives on the Social Action floor of his dorm at NYU.
• Richie is an Ingram Scholar at Vanderbilt.
• Jen recruited 14 of her classmates and began a tutoring program for African American middle school students who are all reading below grade level.
• Blake is working on bringing a chapter of the first multi-cultural fraternity to his state university.
• Nate and Meredith started a STAND (anti-genocide organization) chapter at their private high school.

How is Cultural Leadership funded?

Cultural Leadership has an annual operating budget of $300,000. The total cost per student for program, travel and food expenses exceeds $7000 this year. In addition to the small program fee, Cultural Leadership is funded through individual donations, foundations, corporations, and houses of worship.