By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
The Institute for Community Leadership (ICL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations, is shaping the future of leadership through its Life and Legacy of Dr. King program. By focusing on the nonviolent ideology and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the program provides a transformative experience for young leaders and educators.
ICL’s mission centers on fostering strength, hope, leadership, relationships, and organizational integrity in individuals and institutions. Through its diverse programs, ICL partners with schools, faith-based organizations, civil rights groups, and unions to inspire a commitment to justice and equality.
“We take nominations of mostly high school students,” said Karen Bohlke, ICL’s Director of Government and External Affairs. “In the past, we’ve done a lot of work with middle schools, but currently, we’re focused primarily on high school-aged students. We work with civil rights organizations, faith-based organizations, labor unions, community groups, and schools to nominate students who have a thirst for justice.”
Each year, during the holiday season, selected students participate in a weeklong seminar as part of the Life and Legacy of Dr. King program. These sessions provide an immersive experience where participants study Dr. King’s philosophies and apply them to real-world challenges. Cohorts typically consist of 20 to 30 students, who are housed and supported throughout the seminar.
“The institute was founded in the mid-90s, and our home offices were in Seattle at the time,” Bohlke said. “Our first year of the Life and Legacy program was in 1998. Organizationally, we have a very rich history. Our curriculum and pedagogy are based on Dr. King’s teachings, particularly his book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?.”
At the heart of the Life and Legacy program is an emphasis on democracy, nonviolent civic engagement, and ethical leadership. According to the program curriculum, participants explore the principles of nonviolence, craft speeches inspired by Dr. King’s teachings, and reflect on their perspectives of the world.
“Our five-day Dr. Martin Luther King sessions for teachers and students attract participants who want to change themselves and who want to make a difference in the world,” said Jayda Gray, a Howard University student and past participant who now serves as Director of the Life and Legacy of Dr. King program.
“Learning about nonviolence can profoundly change ourselves and change others,” Gray explained. “Nonviolence education develops self-control and self-awareness. When we begin to better understand ourselves, we can better understand the ideas and feelings of others.”
Gray emphasized the program’s focus on Dr. King’s writings, particularly their relevance to fostering human interconnectedness.
“Through his writings, participants learn how working together can provide a pathway to a more just world,” Gray said. “During Life and Legacy, we have the opportunity to dive a lot deeper into his life and his philosophies, especially through the World House chapter in his book. In that chapter, he highlights the fact that we’re all living in the ‘world house’—we’re interconnected, interrelated. We must learn how to work and live together as brothers and sisters, or we will perish as fools.”
Since its inception, the Life and Legacy program has had a meaningful impact on participants while cultivating strong relationships with community leaders.
“Early on, we worked closely with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent John Stanford, and our students spoke at his back-to-school rally,” Bohlke recalled. “We also collaborated with the late Reverend Samuel McKinney at Mount Zion Baptist Church and held leadership councils at local middle schools.”
Over the years, ICL has expanded its reach to more than 100 school districts in 17 states and five countries.
Dr. King’s legacy remains essential not only as a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement but also as a model for nonviolent resistance and democratic engagement. His contributions to racial and economic equality, including his role in passing the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, are vital in today’s ongoing fight for justice.
“Programs like Life and Legacy are important because they give people an idea of how we can move forward in divisive times and what the next steps should be,” Gray said. “In schools, we’re often only taught that Dr. King was a dreamer. That diluted version overshadows how revolutionary he really was and how his philosophy is a tool for change.”
“In school, we get the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, and that’s pretty much all I learned about Dr. King in school,” added Gray. “But over the five to seven days of Life and Legacy, we focus on some of his key ideas, especially in his final chapter of the World House. There, he reminds us of our shared humanity and the critical need to work together.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings continue to resonate globally, inspiring future generations to fight for justice and equality.
“I would say programs like Life and Legacy of Dr. King are important because they give people an idea and a blueprint on how we can move forward,” Gray said. “In times that are difficult, divisive, and uncertain, the program provides clarity on exactly what the next steps can be.”
Source: Seattle Medium
