Emerging Leaders Academy @ Wakefield

Description

Coming Soon! Youth Democracy Institute is launching its Emerging Leaders Academy at Wakefield High School, a biweekly leadership experience for students in grades 9–12. Through YDI’s Civic Belonging & Powerbuilding Series, students will strengthen their voice, build leadership skills, explore civic power and advocacy, and turn issues they care about into action. FOUNDATIONS OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP — Leadership • Democracy • Civic Voice Explore leadership, constitutional principles, and how young people can make a difference in their schools and communities. FROM IDEAS TO ACTION — Issue Identification • Advocacy • Project Planning Identify an issue you care about and turn your ideas into a civic action project using advocacy, collaboration, and problem-solving. YOUTH DEMOCRACY SUMMIT & CIVICS FAIR — Present • Connect • Compete Represent Wakefield, share your civic action project, learn alongside students from across the region, and participate in the Civics Fair. REFLECTION, NEXT STEPS & WHAT’S POSSIBLE — Reflect • Strengthen • Continue Reflect on the Summit experience, strengthen your leadership goals, and explore how to continue making an impact at Wakefield and beyond. OWN IT — Identity • Student Voice • Belonging Explore how identity, experience, and perspective shape leadership. Reflect on what helps people feel seen, heard, and connected. OUCH! — Conflict Resolution • Accountability • Dialogue Practice navigating disagreement, responding to conflict, and listening across differences. Build skills for communication, accountability, and finding common ground. CLOCK IT — Digital Citizenship • Media Literacy • AI Literacy Examine how information, social media, and AI influence what we see, believe, and share. Practice identifying credible information and making responsible choices online. TEAM UP — Coalition Building • Collaboration • Civic Power Explore how change happens when people work together. Practice building relationships, identifying shared goals, and using collective power. DO SOMETHING — Civic Engagement • Advocacy • Action Identify an issue you care about and explore practical ways to take action through advocacy, organizing, communication, and civic participation. FROM BELONGING TO ACTION — Apply the Learning Bring the series together by applying what you’ve learned about identity, dialogue, power, and advocacy to strengthen Wakefield and the broader community.