History
The Leadership Program was started in 1991 by Ted Otis as a training program with two chief goals: to teach educators how to use New York City's cultural institutions and diverse communities as an educational resource, and to provide effective training in leadership skills in an educational and greater social context.
What began as a teacher training program quickly expanded to student-centered work; we created a program which develops leadership and resiliency skills in youth, cultivating their potential to be positive assets in their schools and neighborhoods. In 1995 we brought our in-class leadership and conflict resolution program to schools through an Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention Grant, which has since expanded to include 175 schools in districts throughout New York City. Since then, our services have expanded to include after-school programming, specialized professional development, social work & mental health services, and parent & community outreach projects in over 250 schools and neighborhoods in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
The Leadership Program is proud to serve as one of the largest contracted vendors for the New York City Department of Education, funded primarily through state and federal grant initiatives. Funding sources have included:
- Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention Grants
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants
- Dropout Prevention Program Grants
- 100% Safe and Drug-Free Schools Grants
- NYC Department of Education (Central & District Offices and Schools)
©2009 The Leadership Program, Inc.