African Studies Summer Leadership Institute

Leading the Future

The African Studies Summer Leadership Institute launched in the summer of 2024 as an initiative to bring African history, culture, and contemporary affairs to high school youth in the Washington, DC area. It aims to create an ever-evolving bond between Howard University and local communities promoting pathways to global leadership, strong relational ties within the African diaspora, and visibility of the Department of African Studies. Youth learn about ancient African societies, traditional spiritual systems, language, political leaders, development, foreign policy, Pan-Africanism, revolutionary movements, colonialism, independence, music, art, oral traditions, dance, film, environmental sustainability, and so much more. They acquire knowledge from guest speakers, summer graduate instructors, faculty, interactive workshops, debates, activities, and African focused field trips. Outings consist of the Museum of African Art, the African Burial Ground (NY), the MET (NY), the Library of Congress, and the Embassy of Ghana. Guest speakers include some of Howard's notable scholars as well as leaders from local, national, and international organizations and government agencies such as the African Union and Millennial Challenge Corporation. Activities to highlight are group presentations, capstone group research projects, book discussions focused on a common text, proposing and formulating policy, African traditional healing techniques, cultural dance and drumming. More than anything, it is our hope to leave fellows with an experience they can positively feel and remember, one that's transformative, and will compel them to become local agents of change, global leaders, and/or return to Howard University as a future student.

Summer At A Glance

View our most recent Class of 2024 newsletters! Please follow our forthcoming Summer 2025 updates by clicking the link below. 2024 Summer Leadership Institute

Preparing for Summer 2025

The institute offers four weeks of developing youth into global leaders by providing workshops, lectures, guest speakers, activities, trips, and events centered around African history, culture, language, traditional practices, film, music, dance, geography, Pan-Africanism, politics, environmental sustainability, foreign policy, contemporary challenges, and progress. The capstone will consist of group research projects and presentations. Early Decision May 15, 2025. The deadline is June 1, 2025. Summer Leadership Application

Donate

The African Studies Summer Leadership Institute is a pre-college initiative designed for high school students that aims to foster an understanding of African culture, history, and contemporary issues among participants. Offered at no cost, our objective is to equip the next generation of global leaders by emphasizing the significance of African Studies as an academic discipline and seek to raise awareness of the Department of African Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University and positively impact student enrollment, recruitment, and retention. Donate