Hope on Canvas

An afternoon of Art, Friendship, and Community

Celebrate connection and community with local Syrian artist ​Nada Odeh as we hear her inspirational story and create a meaningful painting to take home - an anchor of hope.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
12 pm - 3 pm
West Side Bazaar
$30 per person | $75 per family

18th Annual Youth Summer Symposium

From Awareness to Action: The Power of Youth Resistance

The 18th Annual Summer Symposium will inspire you to create change and take action in your community by learning from youth movements of the past and present.

Over 3 days you'll experience:
  • Inspiring stories of young people who changed history
  • Interactive sessions to build your leadership and activism skills
  • Opportunities to connect with peers who share your passion for justice.
July 14, 15, & 16, 2025
9 am - 4 pm
Erie 1 BOCES
Tuition: $175

Donate today!

Teacher Programs

The Academy's professional development conferences for educators provide the knowledge, tools, and inspiration for its participants to teach about the most pressing issues of our day. 

Student Programs

Open to any incoming 9th grader through exiting high school senior, the Summer Symposium (formerly known as The Summer Institute) is a five-day program designed to train the next generation of concerned citizens. 

Donate today

The future can be different than the past. Help our students make history! Consider helping to educate the next generation of changemakers by sponsoring a student, speaker,
​or teacher.

OUR IMPACT

​17 Years

Of successful programs conducted by award-winning staff 

​​600 

High school students trained internationally 

500

Teachers trained at all ​grade levels

​​25,000

Estimated students positively impacted by teacher trainings

Why the academy 

1Proven
​Experience
Founded in 2008, our student summer program has trained over 600 high school students internationally and 300 local teachers in the Buffalo area. An estimated 20,000 students have been positively impacted by our programs in the classroom by those who have attended our trainings. 

2Global  
Impact
Alumni are now entering high profile careers in government, public service, and diplomacy, virtually all its participants have remarked that the program has inspired them to use their talents for the benefit of humanity. Alumni students and teachers have also gone on to hold important human rights events in their schools and communities.

3Global
​Network
The Academy's programs provides students and teachers the opportunity to hear internationally-known human rights experts, take part in hands-on activities and field trips, and learn the skills they need to make an impact on the community, nation, and world.