21Wilberforce Emerging Leaders Program

Purpose: To empower young leaders interested in promoting and protecting international religious freedom by providing tangible and effective IRF advocacy skills

Geographic Scope: United States (university students)

Focus Areas:

• International religious freedom (IRF) advocacy
• Policy influence and development
• Atrocity prevention
• Integration of religious freedom in foreign policy
• Leadership development

Curriculum Content

• Case studies of religious persecution (e.g., Chinese Communist Party impacts)
• USCIRF activities and initiatives including Prisoners of Conscience
• Influencing policymakers
• Atrocity prevention strategies
• IRF Roundtable principles
• Wilberforce Principles of Leadership
• Crafting advocacy messages
• Online campaigning strategies
• Design and implementation of actual advocacy campaigns

Program Duration

• Initial phase: Six weeks of virtual training
• Practicum phase: Four-day virtual intensive
• Culminates with teams collaborating on and presenting advocacy campaigns

Eligibility:

• University students
• Those interested in promoting and protecting international religious freedom

Recent Program Details (2020):

• 9 university student participants
• Three-month total program duration
• Instructors included USCIRF Commissioners, ambassadors, legislative directors, Holocaust Museum genocide prevention experts, and 21Wilberforce staff

Student Feedback: Participants reported gaining practical advocacy skills, hands-on experience, and valuable connections in the IRF field

Contact Information:

• Address: 405 North Washington Street Suite 300, Falls Church, Virginia 22046
• Phone: 571.297.3177
• Website: 21wilberforce.org