This trip has inspired me to take action in areas I strongly believe in, and to not sit back idly and wait for others to take the lead."
- Michael Naclerio, Class 3

Cultural Leadership students participate in an intensive year—425 hours of programming!—of cultural activities, dialogue sessions, travel/study, public speaking, leadership training, and facilitated discussions on diversity and creating social change. Through these activities, the students gain an increased awareness of their own and each other’s history, religion, and culture, and learn valuable skills for facilitating discussions, solving problems, and making change.

We know how important it is to evaluate the effectiveness of our programming and we value any feedback that might improve our efforts in training teens to bring about social change. In addition to consistent internal assessment, last year we hired an outside firm, EMT Associates, to do a year-long, in-depth evaluation. We are proud of the results. You can download and read the full report from EMT here.

Click here for a detailed list of the current year's programs (in PDF format).

Curriculum Overview

Class 3 students interview Frankie Freeman

From January through June, the students meet monthly to learn about the history, culture, and contemporary issues affecting both groups. The opening weekend retreat sets the foundation for the group's year-long activities, including personal and group goal setting and interactive exercises designed for the students to get to know each other. At the April retreat, students learn about successful activists and change agents, including Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, and many leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement, and begin to explore what it will mean for them to become change agents.

Class 1 students in front of Bryants' Store in Money MS

During the summer, the students travel to places in the U.S. of civil rights and social justice significance, including New York City; Washington D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuskegee and Selma, AL; Little Rock, AR; several cities in Mississippi; Whitwell TN; and Memphis, TN. They meet and visit people and organizations that have made - and are still making - significant contributions to improving society. Adult group leaders accompany and supervise the students and facilitate nightly discussions.

Jeremy Cropf (Class 2) facilitates a sensitive discussion at Ladue High School

After our summer journey, the students spend the next four months learning the core skills needed to bring about positive change in their communities: leadership, facilitation, community organizing, and ethics and morals.

Students also take a more high-profile leadership role as they go into schools, houses of worship, and community centers to speak and facilitate discussions with their peers on issues of discrimination and social justice. They continue to meet monthly for leadership training and to learn more about themselves and each other.

In January of the following year, students graduate in a ceremony that highlights their experience, their journey, and their growth. Everyone is welcome to attend.