The ICL Winter Leadership Summit is a contest for graduates of the 2011 ICL Summer Leadership Academy, providing a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in a leadership summit in the “Big Apple” this December.

Prize – 8 students will be selected to participate in a UN style summit in New York City during the beginning of December.  Events and schedule TBD (and finalized by mid October).  Includes airfare and board.

Grand Prize – 2 of our 8 winners will be selected to have their projects filmed in action for use on the new ICL Website. (Also coming mid-October).

Alumni Gift – Everyone who applies for this program will be given a copy of the Institute for Civic Leadership 2011 Yearbook, a reflection on YOUR experience at the ICL Leadership Academy this past summer.  The yearbook will be completed this November.

How to apply:

As you continue with your service project initiatives, (conceived at the summer’s Leadership Academy at Shawigan Lake, British Columbia) you will be asked to present us with a number of items:

1.  A detailed outline of your service project and how you plan to accomplish your goals, using what you learned at the Summer Leadership Academy.

2.  Photos and/or videos of what work you have already completed in preparation for your service project.  This content can be media showing fundraising efforts, planning committees at school, etc.

3.  A written reflection (blog entry) regarding how the Academy has further prepared you for not only THIS project, but also future endeavors including careers, college, and other service initiatives.

Submissions should be sent in by NO LATER than October 12th, with winners announced October 19th.  The committee of judges will select winners based on:

1.  Quality of content provided – (Meaning work done on project preparation as well as items submitted).

2.  Best implementation of skills and values taught at the ICL summer Leadership Academy.

*** ALL Contest Entires should be E-MAILED to Jonathan Beech at Jon@OramacMedia.com

Any questions can go to the same E-Mail address.

We know that all of you have amazing stories to tell and that you have been working diligently since our Academy this August. Everybody is encouraged to apply as we are incredibly are proud of the hard work you have put in thus far.  Good luck!

But it is not only leadership skills that we have obtained throughout these two weeks. It is incredible to see how we have built friendships, which will last for a long time. Yup, and all that in only two weeks.

It is all thanks to the many experiences we have shared. During the boat-building day, we all actually built a boat out of cardboard. Cardboard! Yes! A total failure for some of us.  I was a part of the purple team; we had the least number of points out of all the groups so we had the most unsophisticated boat one could imagine. It was literally a box (with a pointy part in front) covered completely with tape… so I guess the positive side of it was that it was waterproof! We wanted to make the quickest boat as well as the sturdiest. And we were actually pretty confident when it was ready.

The next problem was placing it in the water. It sank after paddling for 10 seconds. But still I could see my whole team cheering for me from the dock. (Teamwork at its peak!) That was really surprising even while I was trying to swim with the boat on my back to the finish line. Despite having failed, we were still trying to make it… and I realized what really makes good leadership: fighting until the end, all together, although it might not always work and although there might be ups and downs.

Another interesting thing that has happened which is important to me that I share, is the speaker we had two days ago: Matt Hill, famous for his voiceover roles as Ed in ‘Edd n’ Eddy‘ and Raphael of the ‘Ninja Turtles‘. What an inspiring man!  He told us his personal story, which is not just any random story. This man, as unreal as it sounds, ran 11,000 miles around Canada and the United States in one year with the only purpose of raising awareness regarding the need to protect our environment. I was truly amazed by the determination that he had to complete his project, despite injuries suffered and other obstacles that could have taken his life due to the immense strain and effort. It made me think: THIS is the example that I should follow.  That is the image of what true leadership is and an example that I would say many of my ICL fellows would like to follow!

So yes, this has been an amazing experience. We are all ready to carry out our projects at home and guess what: we will make a difference! The hardest part is still to come though. For our ideas to become reality it will require a lot of effort and we will encounter many obstacles.  However, as the leaders we have hopefully become, we will make them come true and change the world!

Harder though, to choose which one. And hardest to take Graham’s final sentence:

“How many of you thought of yourself?”

None would be an exaggeration: one shy hand was wobbling in mid-air. When asked to explain, the student said he considered himself as an option, but then rejected it. “Seeing one’s self as a leader is essential to be one” is something I said when asked to give one key quality to be a good leader. “And being self-confident,” I added.  I could sense most of my group members agreed with me. So why didn’t any of us think of ourselves as leaders?

We do not see our names in newspapers on a regular basis, CBC, CNN, or even TF1. They do not know about our existence and we do not get calls from influential political figures for advice, nor do we even have an office or a desk tag with our name on it accompanying some honorary title. We do not wear tuxedos on a regular basis. Most of us do not have the walk of Humans whose life has been filled with successes, achievements, and the yearning for more.  Yet.

But we do have experience in our own fields and stories to share.  We all participate in some kind of volunteering with a wide range of NGOs.  We have led projects and flown them to success. We have also experienced failure and learned from our mistakes. Most importantly, we dream and yearn for more achievements.

We are, in a lot of ways, similar to the people who popped up in our minds, but haven’t achieved quite as much. We are potential for leadership, but is potential enough to shout achievement?

In French, there is a saying that goes: “do not sell the bear’s skin before you’ve killed it. Do not call yourself a leader before others have called you one.

I am a leader in progress. Some people might have called me “leader” before, but I still lack a few essential skills to be a good leader: experience, knowledge, and self-confidence. A lot like most teenagers.

And in order to acquire the last-mentioned skill, I need one thing: recognition.

My question to you is this: “if I ask you to think of leaders, will some of them be the ICL Fellows?” If you answer yes and tell us that you would answer yes, then we will too.

82 students from 26 countries, all with so much potential to do amazing things and to change their own communities, in one place, learning about each other and the world… it was a crazy amount of budding talent and heart in this random corner of the world.  I know that sounded cheesy, but it’s so true.  We had amazing an staff who helped us along our individual journeys throughout the course, such knowledgeable speakers and great teachers, put together with a thick workbook full of awesome material, it was no vacation!

For me personally, it was an amazing eye opener to other peoples’ cultures and experiences.  I learned so much from mealtime conversations — things about other countries and societies — that I think my future now involves homes in 26 countries, all at the same time.  As the facilitators said on the first day, if one goes into something with an open mind and not many expectations, the rewards that come at the other end will be far greater than ever anticipated.  For example, if you expect to win a boat race with a boat that looks like it came out of a 1 yr olds imagination (I’m not saying that’s bad!), then the chances are that when the boat flips after about two seconds, you’ll be heartedly disappointed.  But if your attitude going into the challenge is optimistic but not expecting, then when your boat gets great comments and looks awesome, it makes you feel proud of your group’s work, and the day has ultimately been successful!

(Also, when the captain of the boat is an endurance swimmer and can carry herself, the boat and the paddle and still come in second, it does make you feel pretty good. Go Caitlin!)

The act of having a positive attitude helped me with my project idea too.  Attending an all girls school back home opens your eyes to some of the thoughts of girls that they would never say in front of guys.  The high amount of self-criticizing that happens amongst teenage girls might be a part of growing up, but it is something that I think could help to change.  If girls spend all of their time thinking ‘oh my hair is so gross!’ or ‘do I look fat in this? I hate my nose!’ then we are going to end up with a generation of self-obsessed, overly critical women.  Don’t get me wrong, I am as guilty as anybody when it comes to doubting myself, and I’m sure I too can grow out of it, but I think our community would be better off if teenagers spent their time helping out others and building up their own confidence rather than tearing it down to measure up to a non-existent standard.

So that’s my project, to help teenage girls in my community think positively about themselves, so that they grow up to become confident young women ready to take on any challenge.  Getting girls to write down something they love about themselves starts the ball rolling on positive thinking.  After that, providing them with the opportunity to discover how they can enhance those parts with a couple hours of a beauty course and finally getting them to continually think positive about themselves with a funky mirror sticker, is what I aim to do.

The ICL 2011 academy has given me the inspiration, the education and the motivation to take action in my community.  I have made friends that will definitely be friends for life and probably the next great Politician, activist or athlete, all with the power to change their own communities.  And hey, if we all try that, who knows what our world will look like when we’re done?

The Institute for Civic Leadership prides itself on three basic principles: inspire, educate, and take action. At first, I thought that all of these things were simple, but the facilities and experience at the ICL summer Leadership Academy helped me realize that it’s not.  I learned that inspiration is the spark that keeps a project alive and it is important to acknowledge this passion and not get caught up in the planning process because it is this spark that has the power to revive your driving force.  Next, is the process of educating one’s self.  We have to know all the paths that a project can travel down, the complications, the necessary equipment and finances… and so much more.  And lastly is to just get out there and take action! I was told at this academy, “if you cannot imagine it, then how can you achieve it?” And it’s 100% true.  But even so, if you have been inspired and educated, you have the ability to not let small insecurities stand in your way!  Stand up and take action! This is what I plan to do with my own project because the ICL has given me the courage to realize that it doesn’t matter how old I am or if someone else could do it better than me.  I now know that I have what it takes.

Another thing that stuck with me was something a speaker told me whilst in Canada. He said, “What do you want written on your tomb stone when you die?” It got me thinking… I wanted people to say, “She could light up the room and made a difference!” I believe that if I follow these basic steps that ICL has taught me, people will say just that about me.

And I will not stop until that happens.

During our time there, I came to realize that I was not journaling about speakers or acquired skills and advice, but about the people. We are 82 high school students, and in our own distinct ways, we formed, simultaneously, a network of different and complementary leaders. Fourteen days is most certainly not enough to get to know the story each and everyone of us carry inside.

Throughout the Academy’s unique and challenging activities, I have received what I believe to be the greatest gift the ICL Academy can provide us with: the people.  I maintain that we should all meet the wildest range of people possible because the more you know, the more you grow, and the richer you become as a person. Our interaction brought out the most of us; I never thought I would be able to speak in front of 82 people like I did during our project presentations.  Then there I was with confidence I never knew I had inside of me.  The ICL gave me that.  The mixture of cultures, countries, and values affirmed that we could truly provide a change to this world and make it a better place.

As a famous quote says: “Life rewards action”

We are not future leaders. We are leaders of TODAY, so let’s act!

Across the world, people using prejudice to label others is happening way too much, as they never get to know the people they scorn.  This largely has to do with the events of a weakened global economy, the events of 9/11, recent turmoil in the Middle East, and the flood of Latino immigrants who do not file for legal status in the United States when they come here.   If we let our failures and suffering bring us down, we are doomed by our own lack of strength.

The boom in using psychological terminology/diagnostic names, such as “adult child alcoholic”/ “manic depressive”, etc. largely has to do with the constant flow of media in all directions globally, the endless reporting of gossip publications (e.g. “People”), and the constant determination by women to do anything possible to become more beautiful (botox, plastic surgery, etc.).  If you’re a celebrity or just an adventurous person, it seems that you cannot do anything without people recognizing it from networks like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc.

Leaders of a community must think about others before themselves, not only for the present, but for the future as well.  “We comes before “I.”  Who we are defines what we do, which reminds me of a scene from the movie “Across the Universe,” in which a Princeton college graduate has an argument with his wealthy family about what he plans to do in life.  Even though it may seem monotonous from the constant reinforcement from parents and teachers, it is essential that you do what you love.  Doing what we love gives us confidence to keep striving to do better and be more appreciative of the world and those around us.  As a result, there is a reason why the Nike slogan “Just do it” is so popular.   If we let concerns like popularity and salary overwhelm us, fulfillment of inner happiness is never reached.  In some cultures outside the West, making money and providing fully for your family is the most essential things, and we must be open-minded and respectful of it.  Just because it is different does not make it any better.

Life is all about perspective.  You can either see the glass half empty or half full, and surely if you are the change that you wish to see, positive outcomes are on your side.  No one should ever think of himself or herself as a “nothing.”  Each person has his or her own “spark of genius.”  Each person can be a good family member, a community man/woman, or an honest, effective person in the workforce.  That is not to say, for me, that religion shapes how I see the world. I embrace my religion, but I try to keep it separate from affecting how I make decisions that will have an impact on my life.

Even thought I am young, I am committed to living every day to the fullest, being grateful for who I have around me/what I have been given, and given everyday everything I’ve got.   You never know when you’re nearing your end, and I don’t want to make it to the finish line with regrets and disappointments.  It is common in culture, certainly, to be reflective of life when one’s approaching death, but it makes me wonder why not do that every day of your life.

There is much good in the world, overcoming the evils that present themselves as overwhelming.  That’s why it’s so important to love one’s self (without appearing selfish) and those close to you, setting an example for those who look up to you as role models.  There is no doubt that the world is in big trouble politically, economically, and socially. That is why as blessed citizens of Earth, we must bring change. If we don’t act or wait for bureaucracies to make a move, we will find ourselves in danger.  As participants of the ICL Academy, I can’t think of a better opportunity for young people to grow as leaders, setting examples for future generations to give back.  In closing, not everyone is the next Mark Zuckberg or Albert Einstein, but if we lead a life of morals and ethical responsibility while pursuing happiness, we are in a great position to leave a positive impact on the world.  “Just do it!”

The program was a completely hands-on experience, teaching the ICL Fellows about how his or her own creative abilities can help tell a larger story.  In order to create the “ICL Leadership Academy Story,” the Fellows would have to take action by using these talents.  The Fellows then split themselves up into four groups, designed to tackle various areas of the artistic spectrum: Music, Dance, Theatre, and of course Painting.  From there, the real fun and learning began.

All in all, Laurie Marshall’s program provided us with a day full of art, music, self-discovery, and achievement, culminating with the creation of the first ever “ICL Tree of Life” mural.  Check out a sample of the great photos below and hear what the ICL Fellows had to say about the experience themselves in their individual blogs.

And as always, keep up to date with all ICL News, photos, and programs by checking out and liking our Facebook Page.

During the course of the day, each participant was placed in a group; whether it be painting, music, drama, dance or video and photography. Being part of the painting group allowed me to see firsthand the beauty and wonders that can emerge when people work together towards a common goal. This is the kind of world that I want to grow up and live in; a world where differences are not met with strife but with acceptance and compromise; a world where each person supports one another while looking to the future. Throughout the day, the Singing Tree inspired me to use my project to help create the better world that I envision. At the end of the day, the presentations made by each group solidified my belief that success is possible when people decide to unite and move forward as a single unit. The idea of the “Singing Tree” to create unity throughout the Earth was well accepted and aided by each participant’s zeal to make our world a better place.  It allowed me to personally feel that I was not a single person, but as a member of a larger group, coming together to help not only help our generation but also those of the future.

Laurie’s activity of placing us into groups based on our projects: environment, youth service, social service, education and non-violence allowed me to set clear goals for my project by envisioning it in the future. I was able to move past the immediate view of the project and see it as a sustainable and sustained work, which will create a change, even if it is only in Jamaica. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to have this extended outlook. Outlining clear goals for my project really allowed me to take another step towards the implementation of my project. Forming these groups also showed us other people who had similar projects to ours.  It illuminated other participants who we can give assistance to and receive help from. This helped me personally as I lost a sense of isolation and uncertainty. The early morning discussions about the stages of teamwork, forming, storming, norming and performing gave me a chance to prepare my self psychologically for any troubles that might arise with the team for my current project and others that I intend to implement in the coming years. This information will help me to become either a great leader or follower in a successful team.

This day really showed me what having clear cut and common ambitions can do for any group or team. The collective determination will allow for a fairly smooth and easy ride. Knowing what to expect from any sort of team was useful information. The ability to know how to get pass the rocky storming stage to greener pastures will help my projects to have a greater chance at success.

Our guest presenter was Laurie Marshall, who heads up the “Peace Through Unity” movement. Today, we pushed our creative skills to the limits as we created a 12ft high piece of Art with a tree that we felt represented all of us, as well as our diverse range of backgrounds.

The tree was based on the Baobab of Southern Africa. To represent the different nationalities, each leaf was shaped differently and decorated by each of the Academy participants. Because there are so many of us, we couldn’t all be painting at the same time. Instead, we split up into groups: music, drama, dance, and photography. At the end of the day we all present our work to the group. Overall it was amazing to see what everyone in the different groups was able to come up with, given such tight time constraints. The music group had written their own lyrics and melody, the dance group choreographed their own routine, the drama group created a comical play, while those of us in the videography group compiled a montage of photo’s and video clips of the days activities.

No matter how large or strenuous the task or what the time constraints are, we learned that we could achieve almost anything.  It really is possible, just as long as we believe in ourselves and work together with a clear and common purpose. The ICL Summer Program continues to provide me with more inspirational speakers and intense activities than I thought was possible coming into this experience and it has honestly been amazing.