Program for undergraduate college students.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: The South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) organization announced on Tuesday that it has extended the application deadline for its 2014 Young Leaders Institute, moving the date back to Sunday, May 18.
“SAALT’s Young Leaders Institute is an opportunity for undergraduate university students to build leadership skills, connect with activists and mentors, and explore social change strategies around issues that affect South Asian and immigrant communities in the U.S.,” the organization stated in a press release.
The Young Leaders Institute is a program for undergraduate college students throughout the US. Between 15 and 20 “outstanding, diverse young leaders” will be selected to come to Washington, DC from July 18-20 this summer, where they will focus on three specific areas of interest.
The Young Leaders will explore key issues regarding South Asians and their relationship with LGBTQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer) “justice and allyship.” They will also “learn about social change movements and the intersections of identity and power [and] develop leadership skills and resources to become agents of change.”
“The Institute is designed to cultivate skills to deepen knowledge and awareness; strengthen and nurture relationships with diverse communities; and empower young leaders to be agents of change,” SAALT said.
Candidates accepted into the Young Leaders Institute will be given round-trip air, train, or bus fare to get them to DC, and will be given complimentary hotel accommodations for the duration of their three-day visit to Washington, DC. Meals will also be provided, and participants will engage in monthly phone calls after the program is done to stay in touch and continue their work.
Interested parties are encouraged to apply to the program by emailing YLI@saalt.org. The organization says that “a competitive applicant will have a demonstrated interest in effecting progressive change on their campus or in their community […] have ideas about realistic, scaled projects to enact this change and have the initiative, commitment, and resourcefulness to implement those ideas [and] will be open to sharing their experiences and learning from trainers and peers.”
More information can be found at the SAALT official website.