In the Schools
YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
The Youth Leadership Institute provides a range of youth education and peer leadership education programs for New Jersey high school and college students. Statewide programs are for groups of high schools and their students and are held throughout New Jersey. School-based programs are customized to meet the unique needs of the college/university or high school and its student body and include in-school programming and off-site retreats.
STATEWIDE PROGRAMS
LEAD FOR DIVERSITY
Lead for Diversity's Impact
In the words of the delegates
"It was one of the best experiences of my life. I can't wait to change the world one person at a time, starting with me." - Andrew Altamirano
"I want to come back, but I have to take what I've learned and spread the word! I was challenged to become accepting, but now I truly am. I've seen things through others' point of view." - Kashena Galloway
Lead for Diversity, a week-long human-relations peer leadership program open to public, private and independent high school throughout New Jersey, is the cornerstone of the American Conference on Diversity Youth Leadership Institute and is provided with the support of the American Conference on Diversity Partners in Education.
Every summer, participating schools select teams of students who display an interest in diversity and intergroup relations, motivation and leadership abilities. Through carefully structured interactive workshops, small group discussions, and experiential learning activities, these student delegates acquire the peer leadership, conflict resolution, and human relations skills necessary for success in a diverse world. Additionally, each student delegation develops an Action Plan to help reduce prejudice and promote inclusion within their school communities, and work closely with a faculty advisor throughout the academic year to implement that Action Plan in their schools.
Space in Lead for Diversity is limited and placement is granted on a first come, first-served basis. Early registration is critical to ensure consideration of your high school’s participation in Lead for Diversity. Click here for our on-line registration form for Lead for Diversity 2012; click here for the Lead for Diversity brochure.
To learn more about the impact of Lead for Diversity, please see the following reports:
To learn more about how your high school can participate in Lead for Diversity call 732-745-9330 or click here for email.
VOLUNTEER STAFF applications are now on-line! Apply NOW!
Are you a returning volunteer staff member? Click here to apply.
Will this be your first time serving as a volunteer staff member? Click here to apply.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2011 PARTNERS IN EDUCATION, donors and event participants!
Our 2011-2012 Lead for Diversity year began July 24, 2011 when high schools from across New Jersey sent student delegates to learn to be peer leaders around diversity issues. During the school year, assisted by their faculty advisor, the students will implement their Action Plan, designed at Lead for Diversity by the students for their respective schools, focused on creating inclusive school communities.
In the summer of 2011 student teams from 24 charter, non-charter public and private/independent high schools and their advisors, made the commitment to create positive change in their schools and neighborhoods. During the 2011-2012 school year, these students will implement their Action Plans, intended to affect their school populations, and impact close to 18,000 students throughout New Jersey.
These students wouldn't be able to help foster inclusive school communities - bullying and bias free, where all students have the opportunity to reach their potential - without our PARTNERS IN EDUCATION and our many donors and event participants.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2011 PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
The American Conference on Diversity’s generous Lead for Diversity Partners in Education and other donors subsidize more than 50% of the costs for schools to participate in Lead for Diversity.
Founder
Comcast
Benefactors
Bank of America Foundation
Fidelity Investments
Goldman Sachs
Prudential Foundation
Shor Family Foundation
RBC Wealth Management
Victoria Foundation
Patrons New Jersey Resources
PSE&G
RBC Foundation USA
Schumann Fund for NJ
School SponsorInvestors Savings Bank Foundation
Page Hill Foundation
Delegate SponsorsArgent Associates
Elberon Development Co.
Myers Family
MANYTOWN
“It was an eye-opening experience that helped me see better the way I act around others and how to make myself a better person.” - student participant, Manytown 2011
The Manytown Forum is a one-day human relations youth forum held regionally throughout New Jersey and open to public, private and independent high schools throughout the state. Manytown provides the opportunity for students from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to discuss relevant issues and identify strategies to improve inter-group relations in their schools and communities.
Each forum is planned and facilitated by students who have been trained to lead a conversation about the selected Manytown topic. Students participants have the opportunity to model leadership skills and participate in open, honest conversation as they discuss strategies for increasing awareness and promoting diversity within their schools.
There is no fee for school participation. Click here to learn more about the impact of Manytown Youth Forums.
Please contact us to learn how your high school can participate in a Manytown Forum - by phone at 732-745-9330 or click here for email.
2012 MANYTOWN FORUMS
Northern New Jersey Regional Manytown: March 14, 2012 (8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.) in Edward Williams Hall, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan (Teaneck) Campus. Click here to register; please register by Feb. 29, 2012.
Central and Southern New Jersey Regional Manytown: March 16, 2012 (8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.) in the Casino Building, Georgian Court University Lakewood Campus. Click here to register; please register by March 2, 2012.
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SUMMITS
Youth and Community Summits are one-day forums for high school students and community leaders from local communities to learn about each other and to create positive social change within their community. The forums are planned and facilitated by Lead for Diversity graduates and are funded by generous corporate and foundation grants.
2011 Newark Youth and Community Summit
The Newark Youth & Community Summit, held May 6, 2011, was made possible with the generous support of The Prudential Foundation. Newark high school students participated in peer-led dialogue about the impact of bullying on their schools and communities. Area community leaders were invited to speak about their own experiences within Newark. A performance by George Street Playhouse’s Educational Tour production of IRL: In Real Life helped participants explore the impact of cyberbullying the active role they can take to end cyber-bullying.
2011 Jersey City Youth and Community Summit
The 4th Annual Jersey City Youth & Community Summit was held May 13, 2011, made possible through the generous support of Goldman Sachs and Fidelity Investments, and the commitment of the Jersey City Board of Education. Jersey City high school students participated in peer-led dialogue about the impact of bullying on their schools and communities. Area community leaders were invited to speak about their own experiences within Newark. A performance by George Street Playhouse’s Educational Tour production of IRL: In Real Life helped participants explore the impact of cyberbullying the active role they can take to end cyber-bullying.
SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS
BREAK THE CYCLE: BE THE CHANGE
The Break the Cycle: Be the Change program is a fast-paced, interactive performance which helps audience members to identify the sources of prejudice and the ways in which prejudice plays out in the schools and communities. Using role play, dramatic reading, and facilitated conversation, this program helps students identify ways that they can "be the change" in their schools around issues of prejudice, diversity, and understanding.
AWARENESS TO ACTION
The Awareness to Action leadership program provides intensive human relations and bias reduction training for student leaders and educators from a single high school. Through an interactive, discussion based curriculum, Awareness to Action lays the groundwork for students of different backgrounds to step out of their comfort zones and begin to understand themselves and others in new and meaningful ways. The experience empowers student participants to use what they have learned in their personal lives as well as in their schools.
Awareness to Action aims to create an awareness wihin participants of how attitudes, beliefs, behavior, and language can impact their relationships with others. At the conclusion of the training, Awareness to Action participants are taken through an Action Planning process that allows them to strategically plan to initiate positive change in their school community. A critical mass of Awareness to Action delegates and educators return to their school mobilized with the energy and skills necessary to improve inter-group relations.
CAMPUS LEADERS
"Everyone needs this experience to fully understand the importance of a collective community." - Monmouth University student (as published in Feb. 16, 2011. The Outlook: Monmouth University's Student-Run Newspaper)
Campus Leaders, a program for colleges and universities, brings together student leaders and one or more staff or faculty members to increase their awareness of conscious and unconscious biases and prejudices that individuals may have towards those who are different and to role model the behaviors necessary to appreciate all that is different in our multicultural society. Program participants develop the skills necessary to foster an inclusive campus community and a just society -- both in the community and workplace. Teams of students, faculty and staff members form the basis for a campus leadership group that plans and facilitates approved human relations activities, programs or projects to benefit the campus community and individual participants.