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School & Youth Programs

Teach Acceptance, Build Community

Our workshops engage students in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies focused on exploring self-awareness, collaboration, and social responsibility through the lens of diversity leadership. We offer workshops and training geared toward educators and youth-serving professionals to equip them with the skills and tools necessary to create inclusive school environments.

Program Highlights

Year-Round Workshops
In and Out of School Offerings
Leadership Development
Youth Empowerment
Aligned with State Standards
Social Emotional Learning Competency Development
Community Building
Interactive, Age-Appropriate Learning

Our Goals

The primary objective of The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio’s student programming is to:

Understand more about themselves and their classmates experiences.
Learn leadership skills needed to include others.
Feel more confident to help people in their school or community feel like they belong.

YouLEAD Workshops

YouLEAD is a dynamic workshop series designed to engage students in age-appropriate, interactive experiences that foster self-awareness, empathy, collaboration, and social responsibility. The programming is adapted to meet the needs of students in grades K-12.

Each session encourages students to explore their identities, develop leadership skills, build self-esteem, and participate in meaningful conversations about creating respectful and inclusive communities.

Through open dialogue, skill-building exercises, and relationship-based learning, students will strengthen their school communities during this program. Workshops are typically 60 minutes and can be adapted to fit your classroom schedule. A full YouLEAD series includes 4–6 sessions, each focused on a specific topic aimed at fostering connected, respectful, and inclusive learning environments.

Consultation Services

We are here to support all of your needs related to the creation of inclusive and accessible learning environments. Our data collection and analysis offerings analyze your student population’s lived experiences and your school’s culture and climate for diversity. We also provide crisis and incident response support to help you work through tough moments and strategic planning to bring your vision for belonging in your school system to fruition.

Professional Development Workshops

Empower educators with practical strategies to build stronger connections, foster student success, and create a positive school culture. Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, participants gain tools to enhance classroom engagement, address challenges, and create a more inclusive learning environment. Workshops are adaptable and designed to meet the unique needs of your school.

Impact Statistics

What Our Participants Are Saying

I love this program and how much we can talk. Thank you for sharing about people being unique.

With each new perspective, I became wiser. I am now a lot more confident.

My students LOVE the lessons because not only do they get to learn about important ways to support others and themselves, but they also get the chance to dialogue in a safe space about tough topics like body image, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ issues, anti-bullying, etc.

At The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, we believe young people don’t just represent the future; they are actively shaping it. In a time when many schools and communities are navigating uncertainty around diversity, belonging, and identity, our work is focused on equipping students and educators with the skills to lead with empathy, navigate difference, and build environments where everyone feels they belong.

Our programs go beyond one-time experiences. We partner with schools and youth-serving organizations to create meaningful, sustained impact; helping students better understand themselves and others, strengthening relationships, and fostering the confidence to speak up and support their peers.

Whether you are looking to support your students, strengthen your school culture, or respond to complex challenges, we are here to be a thought partner and resource.

We look forward to connecting with you and supporting your work in building communities where every student is connected, respected, and valued.

In partnership,

Dr. Amanda Cooper (she/her)
Vice President and COO

The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
acooper@diversitycenterneo.org
Cell: 216-752-3000 ext. 5223

Schedule a Free Consultation

Contact us to schedule your free consultation and learn more about what our school and youth programs can do for your students and educators.

Are You Ready to Spark Positive Change?

If you are interested in transforming mindsets at the place where you live, work, teach, or go to school, we can help!