2023 RISE U.S. program details
Who: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders from the United States.
Location: Everywhere! This is a virtual program.
The program will include 30 hours of synchronous learning (large group sessions together on Zoom), plus 20 hours of independent learning and action-taking (completed between our online sessions), for a total of 50 hours.
We know that this is a large commitment for young people who are juggling school, sports, and other commitments. Participants may miss up to eight hours of online programming and still receive their completion certificate. Please be in touch with us if you would like to discuss any concerns or scheduling conflicts.
Overview: During your Core Leadership Program experience, you will take part in a series of workshops and dialogues, as well as leadership and action-taking opportunities, all while being a part of a tight-knit cohort of young people from around the country representing different backgrounds, identity groups, and lived experiences.
You will come away ready to take on opportunities that challenge and push you to deepen your engagement in your community. You will also be ready to mobilize and take action to create more just and inclusive societies in solidarity with others.
Cost: $500
We work hard to make sure that our programs are accessible to as many people as possible. Financially, this means offering scholarships at a variety of levels to all who need them. After your application has been submitted you will receive a link to our scholarship form. We ask that all participants make a meaningful contribution to their experience, whether this is $5, $25, $200, or the full amount of the program. We do our best to ensure that no one is turned away due to financial reasons.
Key components
- Sessions focusing on dialogue, leadership, and action-taking.
- Leading or co-leading an activity or session during the program, with support from peers and facilitators.
- Preparing for and taking action on an issue that you are passionate about in your community.
Focus areas
Dialogue
- Group work—building trust and holding power within a group of peers
- Basic communication skills—listening, questioning, and reflecting
- Identity exploration—sharing the pieces of us (religion, sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ability, age, and more) that make up our worldview
- Navigating conflict—developing the skills we need to bridge big divides, and what to do when conflict strikes
Leadership
- Leadership styles and frameworks
- Self-awareness—lifting our voices, telling our story, setting our purpose
- Listening—understanding the needs and interests of groups and individuals
- Having influence—youth civic leadership and leading change alongside adults
Action
- Activism through history and what we can learn from it
- Community-based action—mutual aid, organizing with others, harnessing people power
- Influencing legislation and policy—using your voice and power to lobby and advocate for government-level change
- Self-care—taking care of Number One
- Enacting change NOW—planning actions for change and learning how to bring Seeds of Peace to others in your community