Molding Change Agents for the Future.
The Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute was established in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2005 to inspire, cultivate, and prepare students ages 12–18 to become informed leaders, engaged citizens, and effective advocates for their communities.
Through summer and year-round programs, SYLDI helps young people understand the power of their voice and develop the confidence to use it. They learn from community leaders, explore college and career pathways, build financial and communication skills, and engage directly with government and elected officials.
SYLDI's approach is rooted in many of the same lessons our founder, political and civil rights activist Doris Crenshaw, learned directly from her mentor, Mrs. Rosa Parks. Mrs. Parks taught Doris about the importance of voting and advocating for one's community. That legacy continues throughout SYLDI's work, including efforts to encourage young and first-time voters to register and vote.
The SYLDI experience is built around six core pillars that help students grow as leaders and learners:
Leadership
Students develop confidence, character, and leadership skills through mentorship, service, collaboration, and direct engagement with accomplished community leaders and changemakers.
Career Readiness
Students explore college and career pathways while building the academic, professional, and life skills needed to pursue their goals and succeed in the future.
Civic Engagement
Students learn how government, communities, and civic institutions work while discovering how informed citizens can influence decisions and create positive change.
Health & Wellness
Students gain practical tools for maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through education, self-reflection, and healthy lifestyle practices.
Communications
Students strengthen their ability to listen, think critically, communicate effectively, and express their ideas through discussion, public speaking, creative projects, and collaborative learning.
Financial Literacy
Students build a foundation for financial independence by learning the principles of budgeting, saving, banking, investing, and responsible financial decision-making.
Our Founder
Founded by civil rights leader Doris Crenshaw, SYLDI reflects her lifetime commitment to leadership, civic engagement, and community empowerment.
A former student of Rosa Parks and vice president of the Montgomery NAACP Youth Council, Crenshaw has spent more than 70 years working alongside leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Dr. Dorothy Height, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, President Jimmy Carter, and Vice President Walter Mondale.
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