About the Summer Institute:
With Holocaust Survivor Elie Wiesel
Founded in 2008 by several teachers in the Buffalo area, the Summer Institute is designed for students who are interested in politics, history, international relations, or the social sciences. It provides its participants with the opportunity to hear human rights experts, historians, and advocates, as well as take part in hands-on activities, discussions, and field trips--all to inspire its students to have a positive impact on the world. Recognized by C-SPAN and the winner of both local and national education awards, its alumni have gone on to pursue careers in journalism, law, politics, medicine, education, and human services.
How it works:
with Ken Hechler, the only Congressman to walk with MLK
Each year, the program runs from for five days in July at the Erie 1 BOCES Center located at 355 Harlem Road in West Seneca. Participants include incoming 9th Graders through exiting high school seniors, as well as interested elementary and secondary educators from private and public institutions from all over Western New York. Students must complete a short application, with limited scholarships available for tuition costs. Please consult the top toolbar for further information on schedule, speakers, tuition, and other basic information.
Mission Statement:
with humanitarian Carl Wikens
The Summer Institute is a non-denominational, non-partisan program designed to provide in-depth human rights education for local high school students and teachers. Whether it is through understanding the history of the Holocaust, contemporary genocide, or human rights issues, the goal of the Institute is to broaden and deepen the knowledge base of its students, so that they may in turn make a difference in their communities, nation, and world.
Goals of the Program:
To help our participants have the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a contributory live in their communities, nation, and world--especially in the arena of human rights education and genocide prevention.
To cultivate the next generation of concerned citizens that are necessary for the health of our democracy and civil society.
To provide examples of past and current role models of citizen-leaders so that our students can stand on their shoulders to help repair the world.
To help educators, civic leaders, and citizens become empowered to take part in their communities to promote tolerance, understanding, and our shared humanity.
To cultivate the next generation of concerned citizens that are necessary for the health of our democracy and civil society.
To provide examples of past and current role models of citizen-leaders so that our students can stand on their shoulders to help repair the world.
To help educators, civic leaders, and citizens become empowered to take part in their communities to promote tolerance, understanding, and our shared humanity.
A federal and New York State-recognized organization:
In 2015, the Summer Institute became a New York State not-for-profit incorporation, as well as a federal 501c3 charitable tax-exempt educational organization. It is headed by a volunteer Board of Directors and a staff of local educators all devoted to encouraging civic engagement in our region, nation, and world.
Since 2017, it has expanded its operations to include professional development opportunities for educators, helping to provide cutting-edge teacher training on the most important issues of our day.
In 2015, the Summer Institute became a New York State not-for-profit incorporation, as well as a federal 501c3 charitable tax-exempt educational organization. It is headed by a volunteer Board of Directors and a staff of local educators all devoted to encouraging civic engagement in our region, nation, and world.
Since 2017, it has expanded its operations to include professional development opportunities for educators, helping to provide cutting-edge teacher training on the most important issues of our day.