Institute for Community Leadership

Mission

The Institute for Community Leadership prepares individuals with ethical leadership for personal and social responsibility, creating peace-filled relationships in society. ICL assists low-income youth, particularly of color, to achieve academic excellence, social and civic engagement, and environmental stewardship, preparing them for the challenges of college and workforce.

Description

The Institute for Community Leadership (ICL) assists individuals, schools, and organizations envision a more just nation and world, and develop and sustain the strength, discipline, leadership, relationships, and organizational integrity to bring that vision into reality. ICL is dedicated to ending racism in public schools by fighting against the obstacles that prevent academic achievement by students of color and low income students. 

ICL provides leadership for personal & civic responsibility with school districts, tribes, and municipalities, serving low-income students and families, primarily of color in a community-based, out of school peer-coaching leadership program strengthening inter-generational, interracial social relationships to increase civic engagement, success in school, and resiliency. ICL works throughout the State of Washington, with a focus on the South Puget Sound region. Programming weekly and biweekly Nonviolence classes, leadership seminars with elected officials, civil rights elders, and community leaders, dynamic civic and voter engagement, and outdoor education. All students receive regular home visits. 

92% of the students are students of color, 93% low-income and reduced meal eligible, 65% from immigrant households and 48% of the homes do not speak English as a first language. Programming increases self-esteem, improve relations with peers and adults and, increase academic performance and personal psychological and physical health. Outcomes include 100% high school graduation, 96% college enrollment, and 89% college degree conferral, as well nearly 100% integration in diverse careers in both the public and private sector and unions (Bohlke, 2013).

Programming raises students’ reading, writing, listening and public speaking skills, and environmental consciousness.  Students develop strong social skills. They reduce TV and video game time. They spend time engaged civically registering voters, meeting with elected officials and community leaders, and in cultural exchanges to urban and rural areas and tribes. 

They spend more time with family, developing stronger intergenerational bonds. They learn the value of respect for self and others. They develop skills, discipline, honesty and a desire to serve the community.  These youth become civically engaged community members understanding and practicing ethical values.