Riley’s Way Chapters

Riley’s Way Chapters bring together a group of young changemakers within one high school, college, or community group, creating opportunities for them to practice and model leading with empathy and kindness and to make a difference on a social justice issue that matters to them. This is a student-led model with school faculty and Riley’s Way staff support and opportunities to connect with a community of other Chapter leaders. By building a hands-on service or advocacy-based project with a community-based organization, Chapter members practice leading with empathy, build meaningful connections, create inclusive communities, and thrive as effective leaders.

Chapter Pillar and Values

‣ Connection-Making: Create opportunities to build relationships and connections with other students, challenge assumptions, and gain a deeper understanding of different identities and experiences.

‣ Leadership Skills: Develop, hone, and practice key leadership skills like communication, creating inclusive spaces, and project planning and implementation.

‣ Social Justice: Learn about and make a difference on social issues with a community partner through a service or advocacy project.

‣ Student-Led: Provide space for students to lead. By giving them the support and opportunity, they develop their voice, agency, and strength as leaders.

Testimonials & Blogs

“Going into the beginning of the year, I was nervous about whether we would be able to make as strong of an impact as we wanted to. As we picked up momentum, I felt more comfortable working with both my team members and other volunteers. I will never forget our work at the Flushing Food Collaborative because I could see the people we were trying to help and felt inspired to do my best.”

-Farrell Smith, Browning Chapter Project Manager

“The Chapter model reinforced my belief that discussion and activity as a group create strong connections within communities which are necessary for leadership to blossom.”
-Hattie Shapard, Brearley Chapter Co-Chair & 2021 Call For Kindness Fellow

Read more about the Chapters’ work:

‣ Reflections on the First Riley’s Way Chapter

‣ A Reflection on Our Time Working for a Better World – Browning’s Riley’s Way Chapter

‣ Brearley’s Chapter’s Trip to BronxWorks with Browning