Compassionate Leaders

An intentional youth community cultivating awareness, compassion, and the courage to create a kinder, wiser world.

Program runs September-May

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88%

of students found being a part of Compassionate Leaders contributed positively to their lasting wellbeing.

75%

of students reported feeling more relaxed, at peace, and happy after attending a weekly meeting.

Compassionate Leaders Program

The Compassionate Leaders Program (CLP) invites high school students in grades 10 through 12 to step into curiosity, vulnerability, and wonder as they explore how they wish to be in the world. CLP is an engaged community, inspired to co-create a more flourishing world by translating shared human values into altruistic and compassionate ways of living.

Meeting Wednesday evenings from October through May, the program also offers weekend retreats and a culminating international immersion experience. During weekly gatherings, participants develop focused attention, self-awareness, compassion, courageous communication, and kind mischief through dialogue, meditation, experiential activities, community building, and service.

Eligibility for retreats and international travel is based on each student’s participation, engagement, and care in building community. The annual curriculum rotates between Genuine Happiness and Secular Ethics, supporting students deepen self understanding, strengthen relationships, and contribute to a kinder, wiser world.

This program is led by Emily Freudenberger and Neil Crowson.

“Compassionate Leaders is my safe space. It's one of the few places where true vulnerability freely slides from my tongue. It is a place where I don't feel any expectations to know or to be. I leave meetings with hope for the future, myself, and humanity. This program has given me mentors who I look up to and trust with my sadness, anger, joy, and humanness.”

11th Grade

Student

“I learned to have compassion for myself. I have felt that compassion within myself and wanted to share it with everyone and anything around me and I think that is truly a beautiful thing.”

12th Grade

Student

“I thought we would just be meditating or something the whole time at CLP, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized we were going to have discussions about complex and philosophical topics. I love our discussions and the way they open my mind to the world. If everyone could do an hour of CLP a week, the world would be a better place.”

10th Grade

Student

Interested in joining the Compassionate Leaders Program?

Click on the appropriate button below to apply now!

New Student Application

Returning Student Application

Interested in the Compassionate Leaders Program?

Contact emily@flourishfoundaiton.org

FAQs

Who do I contact to learn more about CLP?

Emily Freudenberger, emily@flourishfoundation.org

Neil Crowson, neil@flourishfoundation.org

Why join CLP?

Compassionate Leaders is a place to be human. As examples of greed, divisiveness, detachment, and hostility saturate our environmental, political, and social landscapes, teenagers are asked, still, to look to the future. What kind of future are they encountering? One where there is no more room for art and artists in the face of AI? Where the last forests have been logged and rivers polluted? Or one where the human capacities for goodness, awe, and compassion are embodied in our communities and expressed through our love for each other and the land? Compassionate Leaders work to keep the flame of humanity alive as we co-create a world that we actually want to live in. Students are encouraged to join CLP if they notice a longing for a deeper connection to local and global communities, themselves, as well as a sense of awe, purpose, and meaning.

How do I join the program?

While the easiest way to apply is through the application link on our website, students are also invited to show up to a meeting to check it out or reach out to connect with Neil and/or Emily to learn more.

What if I can't make all the meetings each week?

We understand the life of a high school student is incredibly busy, and we are proud that so many of our students are involved in sports and additional extra-curricular activities. We also strive to create a container that is trusting and held by all participants through their presence and participation. To balance these two realities, we remain open to every student, every week, even if the student is only able to participate infrequently. For students who are more committed to the CLP community, opportunities such as local retreats and international immersion trips become available. Eligibility for international travel is largely determined on the basis of participation in weekly meetings and embodied practice of the curriculum.

How much does it cost?

We believe there should be no financial barriers for students to explore a more compassionate way of being in the world and we aspire to ensure that we are able to maintain a vital program to serve this community for a long time! To balance these desires we invite you to contribute to the longevity of this program by making a donation. Our tiered-based structure allows every student and family to reflect on the value you will receive from being involved in the program alongside your current financial capacity to invest in the program. If making a monetary contribution is not feasible for you at this time please know that this does not restrict participation. You can make a donation at this link.