VA Teen Leadership Lab

The VA Teen Leadership Lab on Civic Courage is a hands-on learning experience for high school students examining how young people in Virginia demonstrated courage and leadership to advance civil rights and educational equity. Through a deep dive into landmark moments such as Brown v. Board of Education, the student-led walkout organized by Barbara Johns, and the desegregation of Stratford Junior High School—now Dorothy Hamm Middle School—students explore how youth leadership, collective action, and strategic decision-making shaped lasting change.

Students will:

• A fun, guided icebreaker to build confidence and community
• Short video lessons exploring Brown v. Board of Education and Virginia’s student-led civil rights history
• Facilitated group discussions examining civic courage, leadership, and collective action
• An interactive exercise in coalition-building and policymaking, grounded in real historical examples
• Guided discussion on applying lessons learned to students’ own school and community contexts
• A closing reflection to help students articulate takeaways and next steps for leadership

• Critical thinking through historical analysis and discussion
• Collaboration by working with peers to examine shared challenges
• Consensus-building by navigating different perspectives and ideas
• Problem-solving by analyzing real historical dilemmas and choices
• Public speaking through guided reflection and idea-sharing

Each ticket admits one student to the MLK Teen Leadership Lab and includes complimentary student admission to the Howard University documentary screening of Ain’t No Back to a Merry Go Round on February 17, when accompanied by a registered parent or guardian. A separate parent or guardian registration is required for the screening.

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Host or Publisher Youth Democracy Institute