A transformative leadership experience
for high school students ready to sharpen their skills,
develop their craft, and lead across difference

The Voices of Change Exchange is a leadership experience that brings together 30 students from St. Louis-area public and private schools to engage in deep dialogue, skill-building, and action planning around equity and inclusivity.

📅 July 14–17, 2026 · John Burroughs School, St. Louis
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (July 14–16) · 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (July 17)
Hosted by The Equity Exchange

🗣️ Amplify Their Voices – Engage in storytelling circles, courageous dialogue, and reflection to explore identity, power, and leadership. Sharpen the voice you already carry.

🔥 Harness Their Agency – Connect personal experience to broader systems and develop practical tools for leading change. This is where insight becomes craft.

🤝 Engage Intergenerationally – Students develop their leadership craft alongside experienced educator-leaders. This is not a program where adults guide from above. Both generations grow, and student insights help shape real institutional change.

🌍 Build Intercultural & Inter-School Connections – Collaborate with peers from public and private schools alongside returning educator-leaders from The Equity Exchange's adult leadership cohort. Build relationships rooted in empathy, curiosity, and shared commitment.

🪴 Create Lasting Impact – Leave with concrete, equity-focused action planning experience, supported by a peer network and ongoing mentorship beyond the program.

What you leave with

This program is designed to give you something real. By the end of VoCE, you will have:

→ Confidence to lead authentically across difference
→ Practical leadership tools you can use immediately
→ Experience developing an action plan for equity-focused change.
→ A peer network of other students from across St. Louis
→ Ongoing mentorship from The Equity Exchange network
→ The experience of being fully seen and valued — not for what you produce, but for who you are

Who Should Apply?

VoCE is not for students who have already figured it out. It is for students in the process of becoming, sharpening their leadership edge, and developing their equity practice alongside peers who are doing the same.

✔ Current 9th–11th grade students (entering grades 10–12 in Fall 2026)
✔ Passionate about leadership and equity-driven change
✔ Ready to build connections across school communities
✔ Committed to moving from dialogue to action

What matters is demonstrated curiosity, courage, and a willingness to grow.

Key Dates

📅 Application Opens: April 15, 2026
⏳ Application Deadline: May 29, 2026

Cost & Financial Access

The cost to participate is $300 for the full 3.5-day experience, which includes all programming, materials, snacks, and lunch each day.

We believe cost should never be a barrier to this experience. If financial support is needed, please indicate that on your application, and we will do our best to connect accepted students with available funding. We encourage every interested student to apply, regardless of financial situation.

How to Apply

Ready to sharpen your craft and lead across difference? We'd love to hear from you.

📩 Questions? Contact info@theequityexchange.org — we answer every message.