​The fight against systemic injustice begins with informed and passionate individuals. Welcome to LEAD STL's Cultural Leadership Fellowship, where high school students transform into the civic leaders and social justice changemakers of tomorrow. As our lead facilitator often reminds us, “The best friend of oppression is silence.” Here, we don't just talk about social justice—we act on it.

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We delve deep into history, take field trips to places steeped in cultural importance, and meet the change agents who hand us the baton. In other words, we're training the next generation of civil rights activists, whom we fondly dub “troublemakers of the best kind!”

 

How Does the Program Work?

Our Cultural Leadership Fellowship offers an intense and enriching year-long curriculum, spanning over 420 hours over the course of ten months beginning in January. The program encompasses:

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- Cultural exploration activities
- Public speaking and leadership training
- Educational travel
- Workshops on systemic injustices and inequities 

 

Through these experiences, students explore the rich tapestry of their own and each other's histories, religions, and cultures. They gain insights into how systems of oppression are built and function, acquiring the tools and support they need to dismantle these structures in their communities.

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Breaking the Barriers

St. Louis is notorious for its neighborhood, school district, and socioeconomic segregation. At LEAD STL, we intentionally challenge this status quo by curating our cohorts from a diverse cross-section of zip codes and school districts. The relationships formed within these diverse groups serve as the bedrock for healing the deep-rooted divisions that plague our city.

 

Program Highlights

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Sunday Programs and Weekend-Long Retreats
About once a month, the "village" convenes for relationship-building, cultural understanding, and knowledge-sharing. Industry experts give talks and facilitate workshops on topics like African American history, Jewish culture, education equity, housing segregation, environmental justice, and much more.

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School Swap
Students immerse themselves in a school setting different from their own, shadowing a Cultural Leadership classmate to understand education inequity firsthand. This eye-opening experience challenges their perspectives and encourages meaningful dialogue with administrators and peers alike.

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Holiday Swap
In a true spirit of cross-cultural exchange, Jewish students host Passover Seders for their non-Jewish classmates, and visa-versa during Christian holidays like Palm Sunday or Easter. Students from other religious backgrounds are also encouraged to share their traditions.

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The Transformational Journey
For two transformative weeks in June, students travel through the East Coast and South, visiting sites and meeting with individuals significant to social justice and Black and Jewish history and culture. Each night, students will debrief on the day's experience with adult leaders and each other to help process and and find meaning in the day's learning. 

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When Do We Kick Off?

Mark those calendars! We offer programming from January through October, with monthly meetups typically on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 - 8:00 pm. 

 

Students are expected to attend all program dates. 

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Class 21 Kick-Off Event will be on Sunday, December 7th from 2-3:30 pm.

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Program Dates:

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Friday - Sunday, January 2nd - 4th

Sunday, January 25th

Sunday, February 8th

Sunday, March 1st

Sunday, April 19th

Saturday - Sunday, May  2nd - 3rd

Wednesday - Tuesday, June 3rd - 16th

Sunday, July 12th

Sunday, August 9th

Saturday - Sunday, September 19th - 20th

Sunday, October 11th ​

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Tuition & Support

Tuition for the ten month Cultural Leadership Fellowship Program is $5,500, which covers all program sessions, supplies, overnight retreats, and the two week Transformational Journey expenses.

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To ensure the program is accessible to all students, we offer an equitable sliding scale based on household income. Families interested in sliding scale tuition submit income documentation during registration.

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A non-refundable deposit of 10% is required to reserve your student’s spot, with the remaining balance due before the program begins.

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Apply to Class 21 today!

Applications for Class 21 of Cultural Leadership are open! If you will be in the 10th or 11th grade during the 2025- 2026 school year and live in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, apply online today! 

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**For more information, contact**

Jasmine McCurry  
Manager of Youth Programs
Email: JMcCurry@LEADSTL.org  
Phone: 314-354-8236