The Why Behind Our Why
Our Vision:
A Leadership Journey envisions a world where youth are empowered as resilient
leaders who foster community engagement, lead with empathy, serve as global citizens, and
advocate for social justice. All while prioritizing their mental, emotional, and physical
well-being. We intend to bridge the educational gap, by providing more international educational
opportunities to those from marginalized identities, during their adolescent developmental
stages “in life”.
Why is ALJ important?
An organization like A Leadership Journey (ALJ) is critically important for youth because it helps foster leadership skills, personal growth, and social-emotional development during a formative period in their lives. Programs that focus on leadership, character-building, and self-awareness provide young people with essential tools for success in their personal and professional futures.
WHY EQUITY?
Financial disparities often prevent Black and Brown youth from marginalized identities and vulnerable backgrounds in accessing opportunities and services that support their well being, academic & personal growth, and development. Our primary goal is to alleviate the finanical barriers, ensuring that youth can participate in essencial programs by using the funding we receive to cover their expenses.
Programs that provide financial support to lower-income students help level the playing field, offering these students experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible. The CIEE Global Institute has demonstrated that students from diverse backgrounds who engage in study abroad programs experience both personal and academic growth at comparable or higher rates than their
peers.- CIEE Global Institute
WHY ACCESS?
Access to resources and opportunities plays a pivotal role in the growth and success of Black and Brown youth, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. By breaking down the barriers caused by finanical inequities, we can create pathways for these youth to thrive academically, personally, and socially. Providing them with equitable access not only empowers them to develop their full potential but alsofosters long term well being and resilience. When we invest in their growth, we are investing in a future of shared opportunity and collective progress.
“Learning deeply about another culture strengthens one’s ability to understand, appreciate, and work more effectively with people who belong to that culture—as well as others who are different from oneself.” -"Cross-Cultural Immersion Must Start in High School." The New York Times, inEducation section, December 19, 2019.
WHY MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH?
Youth from marginalized identities experience heightened levels of stress, influenced by factors such as PTSD, personal stress, and environmental stress, impacting their self-perception, emotional well-being, and outlook on opportunities.
“...exchange participants showed greater personal growth and became more sociable, extroverted, responsible, spontaneous, self-confident, individualistic, informal, competitive, and independent. This provides evidence that travel can potentially lead to personal change, even when removed from a school curriculum.” - Journal of Travel Research
WHY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL?
Study abroad programs for middle school and high school students are a powerful tool for
youth development, providing students with invaluable experiences that promote academic
achievement, cultural understanding, and personal growth. Both qualitative and quantitative
data underscore the importance of these programs in shaping well-rounded, globally aware,
and resilient young people
“The experience of navigating new cultural and social environments contributes to the
development of emotional intelligence. Students also gain greater self-awareness and a deeper sense of personal responsibility, which are important qualities for success both academically and in their future careers." -The American Council on Education (ACE)
WHY DOMESTIC TRAVEL?
Our goal is to engage with youth programs nationwide to partake in cultural exchange initiatives. Through collaboration with programs in different states, our aim is to transcend cultural boundaries, fostering a deeper comprehension of societal realities across diverse communities. This endeavor seeks to cultivate a united community of youth leaders transcending borders.
“For decades, researchers have shown that student field trips result in direct knowledge, longer retention of knowledge, and encouraging different student interests than classroom settings.” - Journal of Travel Research