Maryland Leadership Workshops, Inc.

The mission of Maryland Leadership Workshops, Inc. is to provide high quality leadership training and education to Maryland middle and high school students. Through interactive workshops, hands-on practica, one-on-one mentorship, and immersion in a diverse environment of people and ideas, MLW's goals are to inspire youth to realize their leadership potential and to empower them with the skills necessary to become catalysts for positive change in their schools and communities. 

Students who enroll and participate in our summer programs can earn SSL hours for some of the work that is done during the week, specifically the committees they work with to plan program components and the hours they spend working on their groups project, during which they work with a non profit or advocate for a cause.

MLW's flagship youth leadership development programs are our four residential summer programs: Middle School Experience in Leadership (Grades 6-8; 100 students served), Bridge (Grades 7-9) Senior High Workshops (Grades 9-12; 175 students served), and Advanced Leadership Seminar (Grades 10-rising college freshman; 25 students served). These week-long summer programs provide leadership training to secondary school students throughout the state of Maryland through a pedagogical model that involves three main components: education, investigation, and implementation. The foundation of the program is student participation in eleven interactive, experience-based workshops that teach concepts such as project management, advocacy, self-awareness, ethical decision making, leadership styles, and communication and presentation skills. Each student is then given multiple opportunities throughout the week to apply, both individually and in groups, the concepts they have learned. For instance, after completing the workshops, students are trusted with the planning, execution, and evaluation of specific projects such the week-long program's closing activities. Meanwhile, campers also work one-on-one with trained MLW staff members to identify and overcome their own leadership weaknesses while developing detailed at-home action plans to affect change in their schools and communities. As with any summer camp, there is also ample time built into the schedule for group games, social activities such as dances, and general recreation time that promotes an active lifestyle and encourages physical and mental development.

Outreach Programs: In addition to our residential summer leadership development programs, MLW also contracts with schools, school systems, and other youth development organizations around the state to provide leadership instruction during the school year. While the outreach curriculum and programmatic activities are similar to those found in our core programs, MLW works to tailor each individual outreach program to its clients needs, resulting in central themes ranging from Diversity and Leadership to Project Management. Outreach programs range in length from one-day programs during school hours to residential, week-long programs on college campuses.