Diversity Leadership
Certificate Program (DLCP)

Challenging youth to recognize and strengthen their leadership skills while positively affecting social and attitudinal change in schools and communities.

Overview

The Diversity Leadership Certificate Program (DLCP) is an extra-curricular leadership course that challenges youth to recognize and strengthen their leadership skills while positively affecting social and attitudinal change in their school and community. Our innovative programming is highly interactive and uses various multi-media resources to capture the attention of youth effectively.

The program is an opportunity for both teachers and students to gain respect for others from diverse backgrounds, understand the complexities surrounding issues of inclusive schooling, and critically analyze the stereotypical aspects of youth culture as presented in the media.

Goals and Objectives

The DLCP aims to build upon program participants’ own values of diversity and self-esteem in order to help combat discrimination. Students are made aware of the issues behind prejudice and, throughout the program, are encouraged to develop personal strategies to address these issues. Developing a strong sense of identity and understanding of self are also core elements of the program.

Format

The DLCP consists of eight one-hour sessions held either during class, during lunch or after school. Students are given assignments that encourage them to creatively address all aspects of diversity including race, culture, religion, ability, class, regionalism and gender.

Media literacy, leadership, self-esteem building and presentation skills are all tools that are developed in these weekly sessions.

Student Selection

Teachers and administrators will select 25-30 students to participate in the program. The group should consist of both strong and potential leaders, and participants should reflect the diversity of the school (i.e. gender, race, ability, culture and ethnicity).

Teachers and administrators must stress the commitment expectations of the program to the participating students. They will inform the students of the theme and focus of the program, and emphasize the importance of building strong leaders in their school.

DLCP Elementary: Grades 4-8

School Assembly
At the end of DLCP Elementary, students will deliver a school assembly approximately one hour in duration, for the maximum number of students allowable in the space provided by the school. Parents of students in the program are also invited to attend the assembly, as certificates will be awarded to participants following the assembly.

DLCP Secondary: Grades 9-12

Feeder School Workshops
At the end of the DLCP Secondary, students are required to deliver an equity and diversity workshop either to elementary students in their local community, or to students within their own school. To celebrate the achievements of the students, there is a graduation ceremony where students are awarded their certificates. Parents and teachers of the graduates are invited to attend, along with school administrators and members of the community.

Community Service Hours

Secondary students participating in the DLCP will be credited with a total of thirty community service hours, providing that they meet attendance, assignment, and workshop requirements. This aids the students in achieving the mandatory provincial requirement for community service hours, while benefiting both the students and their communities.