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About Cultural Leadership
Background News and Awards
Cultural Leadership is modeled after a similar program in Washington, D.C. founded by Karen Kalish in 1993, which was inspired by a similar program in Philadelphia begun in 1985 by former Congressman and President of The College Fund William H. Gray III and George Ross, former President of the American Jewish Committee in Philadelphia.
The history of Jewish - African American relations in the United States is one of mutual cooperation. Each group has faced obstacles and a series of struggles. Together they worked side-by-side for equality and mutual successes. Jews were part of the NAACP from its inception. In 1838, 24 prominent Jews led a petition effort in the U.S. Senate to abolish slavery. In 1905, students at Hampton Institute raised money for the Jewish Relief Fund Committee to help Jewish victims of Russian anti-Semitism. In 1945, a Black battalion of American soldiers liberated Jews from Gunskirchen, a subcamp of Mauthausen. In 1949 Jewish boys distributed leaflets outside Ebbets Field demanding the integration of baseball. And there was significant cooperation between the two groups during the civil rights era as many individuals worked towards collective goals of equality and freedom.
Since those days, race issues have surfaced that demand attention. Examples of mistrust, intolerance and misunderstanding abound. This organization believes and teaches that the place to begin to restore faith in humankind is with tomorrow's leaders: the young people of both communities. Cultural Leadership believes that it is time to replace prejudice with facts, ignorance with knowledge, and suspicion with friendship.
| Cultural Leadership is proud to have received several awards in just its first 3 years... | ||
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Gateway Center for Giving |
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The Art of Living For helping "create a violence-free, stress-free society," 2007 |
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St. Louis Argus "Youth Organization of the Year," 2006 |
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FOCUS St. Louis "What's Right with the Region," 2006 |
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| And Cultural Leadership has been featured in the news... | ||
These PDF articles require Adobe Acrobat Reader; click on the icon to download the most recent version:  |
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| Jewish Light (7/11/2007) | ||
| St. Louis Post-Dispatch (7/2/2007) includes responses |
Jewish Light (6/27/2007) | |
| Montgomery Advertiser (6/23/2007) | Arch City Chronicle (9/26/2006) | |
| St. Louis Argus (3/30/2006) | Jewish Light (9/28/2005) | |
| St. Louis American (8/4/2005) | Hebrew Watchman (8/4/2005) | |
| Jackson Advocate (7/28/2005) | West End Word (7/20/2005) | |
| Citizen Journal (7/20/2005) | Arkansas Democrat Gazette (7/7/2005) | |
| Montgomery Advertiser (7/3/2005) | New York Amsterdam News (6/23/2005) | |
| Jewish Light (5/4/2005) | Ladue Panorama (1/31/2005) | |
| Citizen Journal (1/26/2005) | St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1/17/2005) | |
| Jewish Light (12/1/2004) | St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/21/2004) | |
| St. Louis American (10/21/2004) | ||
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
Home | About| Programs | Students | Links | Contact us
| Cultural Leadership 225 Linden Ave. St. Louis MO 63105 (T) 314-725-3222 - (F) 314-727-1122 www.culturalleadership.com |
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. |