The Institute for Community Leadership

The Institute for Community Leadership Research reveals 100% increase in student civic engagement, and 97.6% increase or maintenance of academic grades.

The Institute for Community Leadership assists individuals, schools & organizations envision a more just nation & world, & develop & sustain the strength, discipline, leadership, relationships, & organizational integrity to bring that vision into reality. OUR MISSION: To empower individuals and organizations to create a vision of a more just nation and world and to develop and sustain within them

selves the strength, hope, leadership, relationships and organizational integrity to bring about that vision. Students attain 100% high school graduation or equivalency, 96.3% enrollment in community or four-year colleges, and 89% degree conferral rates (JD, MA, BSN, BA or BS, and AA, AS, and CA). Data evidences increased analytical thinking, communication skills, and respect for self and others. Students create values and relationships that enhance social and career skills and family life. Outcomes reveal strengthened relationships between students and authority figures, resulting in a stronger family, teacher, and student experience.

"Writing an Op Ed is one of the ways you can exercise your own voice. In America each day, it's getting harder and harde...
04/07/2026

"Writing an Op Ed is one of the ways you can exercise your own voice. In America each day, it's getting harder and harder to speak up about human rights and caring for other people. If we develop the ability to speak like a muscle, we will become strong." Jennifer Tran, ICL student graduate. Her recent Op Ed in the International Examiner follows,

I believe the answer to this question is that mental health can be both. Health is a Venn diagram that encompasses our physical, mental, environmental, spiritual and social health. For example, if our mental health isn’t good, it will affect other parts of our health. A study from the American Hea...

Turn anger, cynicism and despair into hope, faith and civic action. Find a way to participate, every day! Dr. King teach...
03/29/2026

Turn anger, cynicism and despair into hope, faith and civic action. Find a way to participate, every day! Dr. King teaches, no one can change us, for us, but us.

Read the newspapers of nations around the world
VOTE and accompany those close to you, who do not usually vote, TO VOTE
Keep a journal
TALK with your family and friends about topics that matter
Write op eds and submit to your local newspaper
Attend marches and rallies
Write your Member of Congress
ORGANIZE!

“We all have a 'Selma', a place that is considered too risky or with too much fear to be able to make change effectively...
03/15/2026

“We all have a 'Selma', a place that is considered too risky or with too much fear to be able to make change effectively. Bernard Lafayette and Joanne Bland teach us to go to Selma, to find hope in difficult circumstances by convincing the people that hope is alive and change is possible. Our first Selma might be our own family, our friends. We must have courage to face these challenges, as unstoppable momentum comes from places such as Selma.” Izel Palestina, ICL student, as stated in an ICL class honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Joanne Bland

The Institute for Community Leadership honors the life and legacy of Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Joanne Bland, foot soldiers for civil rights who made remarkable contributions to the struggle in Selma, Alabama, the nation, and world.

ICL youth graduate Maira Perez, and other ICL students, speak with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on “Where do...
02/24/2026

ICL youth graduate Maira Perez, and other ICL students, speak with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on “Where do we go from here?” at the historic Mason Temple, where Dr. King gave his last speech in 1968 to striking sanitation workers. Maira, a first generation college student, is now Assistant Attorney General to the State of Illinois and serves on the ICL Board of Directors. Memphis, Tennessee

City of Kent Government City of Covington, WA - Government

ICL honors our dear friend Ranger Betty Reid Soskin, the National Park Service's oldest active ranger at the age of 100....
12/30/2025

ICL honors our dear friend Ranger Betty Reid Soskin, the National Park Service's oldest active ranger at the age of 100. During her time as a ranger Soskin sought to shed light on experiences of women of color during the second world war. At 104 years, she passes on, yet the wisdom she has left us will live on far longer.

To learn more about Ranger Soskin’s life, read here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/22/betty-reid-soskin-death-national-park-service

"People forget that non-Indians in western Washington have treaty rights, too. Treaties opened the door to statehood. Wi...
12/08/2025

"People forget that non-Indians in western Washington have treaty rights, too. Treaties opened the door to statehood. Without them, non-Indians would have no legal right to buy property, build homes or even operate businesses on the millions of acres tribes ceded to the federal government.

"Treaty rights should never be taken for granted — by anyone."

Billy Frank, Jr.

Pictured here, ICL hosts Crestwood Elementary fourth graders to test the water quality in Little Soos Creek, ICL Education Center, Kent, WA

"The responsibilities of citizenship do not begin or end with casting a vote. None of us can afford to be a bystander in...
12/08/2025

"The responsibilities of citizenship do not begin or end with casting a vote. None of us can afford to be a bystander in life. Civic participation requires stepping off the sidelines and becoming active in improving one’s community. That might mean being there for a neighbor, reading to those at a nursing home, or caring for others in need. It also means publicly raising important problems that our society faces in peaceful, democratic ways and working toward solutions." United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Justice Sotomayor is pictured here with ICL's Civic Engagement Team

King County Elections Seattle Foundation League of Women Voters of Washington League of Women Voters of Seattle King County

12/01/2025

Personal Transformation through Social Participation
Create Peace. Construct Community. Strengthen Democracy. Volunteer today!

Address

24833 180th Avenue Se
Kent, WA
98042

Telephone

+12538723612

Website

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