Develop Global Youth Leaders in NYC and DC!

In 2012-2013 Global Kids provided services to more than 600 students directly, through in-school and afterschool programs at 15 school sites in New York City and four in Washington, DC, as well as at our Manhattan headquarters. The core group of Global Kids student leaders participate in the Power of Citizenry leadership program, which engages students through weekly interactive workshops, field trips, guest speakers, and other educational activities that inform participants about critical international and public policy issues, develops their leadership, critical thinking, and communications skills, and prepares them for higher education and the 21^st century workplace. This core activity is supplemented with a variety of other programs, which consist of:

• After School Leadership focuses on developing students’ understanding of crucial international policy issues and building their communication and leadership skills in order to educate their peers on these issues.
• The Annual Youth Conference, an all-day event, planned and executed entirely by students, that annually educates over 600 youth, educators and others about such topics as politics, environmental sustainability, and global conflict.
• College and Career Readiness, which involves participants in college and career workshops and provides them with work internships, college visits, and ongoing support with the college application and financial aid processes.
• The Online Leadership Program, in which youth learn to design, produce, and use digital media, including virtual worlds, blogs, podcasts and multimedia presentations to educate their peers on global issues of concern.
• The Human Rights Activist Project, a unique service learning opportunity for 75 diverse youth to research and advocate for the human rights and social justice issues affecting them and their communities.
• Undesirable Elements, an educational theater piece, written and performed by the participants, that incorporates world history, students’ cultural heritage and personal stories, and critical current events.
• The U.S. in the World Institute, an intensive three week summer learning experience, hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, the world’s leading international affairs think tank, that involves students in the world of foreign policy through workshops with leading foreign policy experts, visits to such organizations as the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, collaboration with international youth, and a commitment to year-long service learning projects.
• Young Leaders on the Rise is a transition to high school program for incoming 9^th graders, which aims to ensure that all students advance to the 10^th grade and which immerses them in the culture and community of the school.

Additionally, another 15,000 were reached through peer education workshops, conferences, and other special activities, and thousands more through our Online Leadership Program. In 2011-2012, the most recent year for which data is available, 96% of the seniors in our NYC programs graduated from high school and 87% of those seniors went on to attend college. In Washington, DC, 100% of our seniors graduated, of whom 100% were accepted to and are attending college. These data stand in stark contrast to the most recent available graduation rates for NYC and DC, which are 61% and 56% respectively. Additionally, our outcomes assessment data show that, among 2011-2012 participants: 89% agreed that GK has changed the way they look at issues in the world and in their communities. Eighty-four percent agreed they have increased interest in domestic and international issues. Results also showed that the majority of youth could accomplish seven leadership competencies that include: public speaking, peer education, digital media, critical thinking, respect for diversity, decision-making, and advocacy. Seventy-four percent of youth responded that they can accomplish these skills “very well” and “mostly” on their own. Sixteen percent can accomplish these skills with some help. Ninety-six percent of seniors served in 2010-11 graduated from high school, of whom 89% are in college, 4% are working, and 7% are applying to college and/or looking for work.