About Us

The goal of the Smith Davidson Leadership Initiative is to recruit, select, and teach Johnson C. Smith University and Davidson College students how to become leaders who make a disproportionate impact in the life of a city. The program uses Charlotte, NC as training grounds to teach students about challenges that all cities face.

 

SDLI envisions a world that remains committed to confronting all forms of systemic oppressions.

To make that vision a reality, SDLI nurtures and trains curious, concerned, and passionate students — who are not debilitated by how terrible the world is — to become leaders equipped with a framework that goes beyond tinkering with injustices in the world.

Our Values

The work of training leaders is a privilege and our life's work

We deliver the best in resources and opportunities to prepare students for careers in public policy

We value processes, procedures and contingencies that ensure we deliver on our financial and programmatic promises to our students

 

We value open and consistent communication

We do what we have to do to circumvent systems that stagnate progress and inhibit the sharing of resources

How We Show Up

 

We curate the dopest experiences and resources for learning about public policy.

We develop ambitious, unapologetic, bold, and confident leaders to go beyond tinkering with social injustices in the world.

We use sincere, intimate contact as a way of fostering love and care for the full human.

We cultivate space for genuine, deep, abiding, unending love for ourselves first, the community, and then the world.

We revere and seek out community stories, knowledge, and generational histories as expertise and an inextricable part of our pedagogy and our smarts.

 

Six Reasons to Join SDLI

  • MEMBERSHIP

    Membership in a smart, socially-engaged, and loving community

  • TRAINING

    Training in understanding the historical foundations and contemporary implications of social problems

  • ENGAGEMENT

    Constant engagement with policymakers and civic leaders in Charlotte

  • SPONSORED INTERNSHIP

    Two fully-sponsored summer internships (including stipend, travel funds, and housing)

  • MONEY

    $5,000 Grant for Senior Capstone Project

  • PREPARATION

    Preparation for careers in public policy and civic leadership

Program Overview + Timeline