Informed citizenry and effective leadership are needed today more than ever to respond to issues and conditions that threaten our world.  Effective leadership will become more important in the years to come as the world struggles to overcome pressures on our ecology and the effects of war, bad government and economic greed. Unfortunately, the majority of our country’s citizens and particularly students who attend under-resourced schools do not receive the training and preparation needed to respond to complex social, political, economic and environmental needs. Our vision is to provide long-term support to young leaders focusing on personal, academic and leadership development.  

IYLI emphasizes each individual’s power and responsibility to create change and to address needs they see in society.   Programs and training focus on how the global community is connected and how we can learn from each other to solve challenges that affect us all.  IYLI helps to break down the barriers that separate different cultures.  Students learn first-hand how different communities respond to social, political, economic and environmental issues in order to become informed global citizens who are capable of bringing a global perspective to local challenges.