Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute

This interdisciplinary learning experience creates a hands-on introduction to careers in a variety of fields, including but not limited to history, the arts,museumeducation, preservation, archaeology, photography, and horticulture. Through research and project based activities, students learn about the inspiring work of local abolitionists as they collaborate in the creation of professional public presentations showcasing what they have learned at The Leadership Institute. This innovative summer institute is an opportunity for teens to not simply learn about, but to re-create, a ‘sense’ for the past and its relevance today while becoming agents of change for a more equitable and just society.

Would you like to participate in the Leadership Institute? Apply through the City of Albany’s Summer Youth Employment Program or by contacting Underground Railroad Education Center.

2024

Tours of the Myers Residence by YALI Teens

This video is the result of a collaboration between two groups of teens who worked with us during our 2024 Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute Summer Program. The Tour Group, led by Lacey Wilson, learned how to give tours of our historic house while the Documentary Group, led by Marcus Anderson, learned how to plan, record, and edit documentaries which include this video.

Welcome to the Myers Residence by the YALI Documentary Group

This video was created by the teens of our Summer 2024 Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute (YALI) program led by their facilitator Marcus Anderson. The group learned the process of conducting interviews, writing a script, recording footage, and editing a documentary,

Narration: Leveah Adams
Script: Leveah Adams, Liya Shannon, Alyana Dawkins
Cameras: Leveah Adams, Liya Shannon, and Breeanna Walker

2023

Agents of Change: An Underground Railroad Education Center Documentary

This documentary tells the story of Albany’s Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC). It was created by group of teens from UREC’s Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute and their facilitator, Marcus K. Anderson. Learn about UREC, The YALI program, and the story of local Black Abolitionists, Stephen and Harriet Myers.

Juneteenth celebrations honor African American history, culture

As Juneteenth approaches, communities across the country are coming together to celebrate the end of legalized slavery and honor the resilience and courage of African Americans in the fight for freedom. From parades and concerts to speeches and spoken word performances, Juneteenth is a time to celebrate African-American culture, history and achievements.

At the Underground Railroad Education Center in Albany, Marcus Anderson is leading the charge to teach young people about the past and present, so they don’t repeat it in the future. Anderson, the deputy director of the center, has made it his mission to teach the youth of today the history of the past and the present.

“We need to look back and both celebrate and recognize the solemn past that is affecting our present right now in order to build a brighter future,” Anderson said.

The Juneteenth celebration was held at the Underground Railroad Education Center, a sacred site that was once home to Black abolition. In order to learn more about the Underground Railroad Education Center, you can visit their website.

Continue reading and watch video at Spectrum News

2022

What To Do with Phil? – A 2022 Report from the Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute

Prepared for inclusion in the records of the City of Albany as disposition of the Philip Schuyler statue is determined

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Following the drafting of an investigative action plan, the consideration of a variety of questions

related to statues and heroes, the investigation of the historic circumstances surrounding the selection, design and installation of the Philip Schuyler statue on a small roundabout in front of Albany City Hall,

the review of what other communities around the United States were doing with their statues, collection of feedback from the community, the Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute teens focusing on this matter agreed that the Philip Schuyler statue should be removed from its present location at the intersection of Eagle St. and Washington Avenue in Albany, New York and moved to a more appropriate location, with suggestions of relocation noted further on in this report, with the inclusion of a more comprehensive explanation of Philip Schuyler that includes information about his heroic deeds but also includes information about his life circumstances that provided him the opportunities to achieve what he achieved.

The question about what to do with Phil is not just about the Philip Schuyler statue. It is a question about how does New York State, and in turn its capital city, admit to its less than savory past, own up to its investment in the institution of enslavement, and work diligently to confront and change the contemporary impact of the legacy of the institution of enslavement.
Continue Reading

Video: Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute (YALI) Summer 2022

A mini documentary of our summer program. Photos and video shot and directed by program participant, Jaidyn R.