MLK Day Youth Leadership Institute 2016

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day, The MLK Leadership Program of Seton Hall University will host “MLK Day Youth Leadership Institute 2016” on January 18, 2016, at 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The program is designed for high school students in local communities. The participants will learn three skills: to be personally competent, empowered participants in the democratic process and to become equipped advocates for change.

The program will feature five core principles taught through small group interaction facilitated by MLK scholars: cultural American power, personal power, community power, public power and personal advocacy.

The leadership institute is inspired by MLK’s vision for education, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

In speaking to the program’s significance, MLK Leadership Program Director Rev. Forrest Pritchett referenced Mahatma Gandhi’s well-known thoughts on the importance of personal empowerment, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Registration is $30 for individuals; $25 for groups of 5 or more, the registration deadline is Wednesday, January 13, 2016. Seating is limited. Registration will cover breakfast and lunch and educational materials.

To register and for more details contact Rev. Pritchett at Forrest.Pritchett@shu.edu or (973) 275-2760. Seton Hall University is located at 400 South Orange Avenue, in South Orange, N.J. The program will be held in the University Center.

ABOUT THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (MLK) LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Established in 1970, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Program is the oldest and most prestigious servant leadership program at Seton Hall University and is one of the earliest such programs in the United States. Originally established as a university scholarship, the program has broadened its vision to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The MLK Leadership Program now provides partial tuition scholarships to exceptional students each year, and it also provides management and leadership development skills to its scholars. MLK Scholars learn how to execute programs and events from the conception, development and implementation stages. MLK Scholars will also complete research on issues involving values, equality of access and social justice. The University CORE curriculum also compliments the MLK goals with the emphasis on intellectual and ethical engagement through a values and spirituality oriented approach to critical thinking. SHU MLK scholars are also committed to community service by completing extensive hours of service annually. The MLK scholars work in a variety of settings including middle to high schools, community agencies, international service projects, etc. The scholars also provide programming and motivational and leadership training on campus. All MLK Scholars are active participants in the Martin Luther King Scholarship Association (MLKSA). This honorary society has received numerous awards for its outstanding programming.

ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been developing students in mind, heart and spirit since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous academic programs, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has experienced record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth as well as nearly a 100-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. Since 2007, Seton Hall students and alumni have been awarded 18 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors including a Rhodes Scholar. A founding member of the new Big East Conference, the Seton Hall Pirates field 14 NCAA Division I varsity sports teams.
The University’s beautiful main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, and is only 14 miles from New York City – offering its students a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. The University’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark.
For more information, visit www.shu.edu.