Be the Bridge’s Student Leadership Institute is an immersive experience providing high school juniors and seniors, along with college-aged students up to age 23, with a transformative opportunity to grow in racial literacy and build a lasting foundation rooted in justice, faith, and bridge-building.
Hosted in Montgomery, Alabama, a historic epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement, this weekend experience combines education, reflection, and community engagement to deepen students’ understanding of race, history, and reconciliation.
Throughout the long weekend, students will:
- Participate in dynamic, hands-on training sessions led by Be the Bridge facilitators, exploring race and justice through biblical, policy, historical, and social perspectives
- Engage in our signature Discussions & Desserts model, fostering honest dialogue and meaningful connection across differences
- Visit significant civil rights landmarks and museums, including:
- The Legacy Museum
- The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
- The Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham
- The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma
- Additional Montgomery-area historical sites
- Hear from experienced leaders, educators, and practitioners actively engaged in justice, advocacy, and reconciliation work
As a core component of the experience, students will collaborate on a hands-on project designed to apply what they have learned. This project will serve as a launchpad into the Be the Bridge Youth and University Leadership Cohort, equipping students to continue their development and actively lead in their communities beyond the weekend.
The goal of the Student Leadership Institute is for participants to leave the weekend:
- Equipped with the language and tools to engage in conversations about race and justice
- Deeply rooted in a historical understanding that informs present-day action
- Grounded in a holistic framework that integrates faith, policy awareness, and social impact
- Empowered to lead with empathy, courage, and conviction in their schools, communities, and spheres of influence
- Committed to being bridge-builders who pursue justice, reconciliation, and lasting change
