MLK Youth Leadership Workshop

2-hour workshop for middle schoolers focused on values courage youth activism and finding your voice.

How the Workshop Works

Students will participate in a structured, engaging experience that includes:

• A guided icebreaker to build confidence and community
• Short videos and discussion exploring leadership through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Anne Frank, and the Freedom Riders, highlighting values, courage, and collective action
• Facilitated conversation connecting historical examples to students’ own experiences

Skills in Action

Students put leadership into practice through:

• A collaborative coalition-building exercise
• A supportive public speaking activity focused on real student issues
• Feedback centered on confidence, clarity, and teamwork

Wrap-Up & Reflection

The session concludes with a fun recap and reflection, helping students identify what they learned and how they might apply it at school or in their community.

Part of the Leadership & Legacy Series

This workshop is part of Youth Democracy Institute’s Leadership & Legacy Series.

Students who register for this workshop receive free student admission to the Howard University documentary screening of Ain’t No Back to a Merry Go Round on February 17, 2026, when accompanied by a registered parent or guardian.