Why Leaders Of The Free World?
Leaders of the Free World is about psychological emancipation.
It's about testing your limits and stepping outside of your comfort zone. We define the "Free World" as a place that is beyond fears and mental barriers. It's the place where you redefine your existence, affirm your purpose, and discover your own personal power and leadership potential.
The Leaders of the Free World Program is focused on the personal and professional development of young Black men. We teach our fellows to be self-reflective, to develop a sense of self awareness, and to connect that sense of awareness to leadership and global engagement. Participants receive encouragement from their mentors and support from their cohort, while gaining a broader view of the world and themselves.
The LFW program includes soft skills-building, trip preparation workshops, community service, cultural education and immersion, as well as a structured goal-setting and accountability process undertaken by all of the fellows. The model is designed to cultivate a sense of self-mastery, personal growth, and self efficacy.
It's about testing your limits and stepping outside of your comfort zone. We define the "Free World" as a place that is beyond fears and mental barriers. It's the place where you redefine your existence, affirm your purpose, and discover your own personal power and leadership potential.
The Leaders of the Free World Program is focused on the personal and professional development of young Black men. We teach our fellows to be self-reflective, to develop a sense of self awareness, and to connect that sense of awareness to leadership and global engagement. Participants receive encouragement from their mentors and support from their cohort, while gaining a broader view of the world and themselves.
The LFW program includes soft skills-building, trip preparation workshops, community service, cultural education and immersion, as well as a structured goal-setting and accountability process undertaken by all of the fellows. The model is designed to cultivate a sense of self-mastery, personal growth, and self efficacy.
Why Is Self-Efficacy So Important?
Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s capability to successfully achieve set goals (Bandura, 1993). People who strongly believe in themselves to accomplish targets are better able to deal with any associated challenges along the way. Our efficacy is positively influenced when we master new challenges or view others like us mastering similar challenges (role models). Self-efficacy is also influenced by those around us, believing in and encouraging our success. The LFW program is designed to focus on affecting these particular areas of leadership development.
Why Focus on Young Black Men?
Through initiatives like the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper and the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, the United States has come to understand the degree to which African-American men and boys still experience disparities in education, economic mobility, and social and physical well-being. Post-recession Black male unemployment is still high; more than double the white unemployment rate in January 2013 (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics). “Black males between 25 and 39 years old, arguably in the prime of life, are the most likely to be incarcerated,” (BMAfunders – U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics).
Why International Experiential Learning?
International experience offers a new frame of reference. For African-American young men international experience offers a reprieve from the U.S. historical context of Black racial identity. Structured international learning experiences can allow for a deeper level of engagement and cross-cultural dialogue. International experience can also provide opportunities for intentional self-reflection and deepen one's understanding of global and cultural issues as well as cultivate a sense of responsibility as a local and global citizen (Bringle and Hatcher, 2011).