Participants in the 2025 Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend. (Photo provided)
October 15, 2026
SIU’s Paul Simon Institute to host Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will host its Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, welcoming more than 50 young Black males from the Metro East region for a weekend focused on leadership, technology and civic engagement.
This year’s theme, “Power UP: Through Leadership, Technology and Civic Action,” will guide activities designed to encourage personal development, servant leadership, career exploration and civic involvement among students in eighth through 12th grade. The program includes leadership sessions, keynote addresses, team-building activities, mentorship opportunities and participation in SIU campus life.
“Youth Leadership Weekend is an opportunity for these young men to discover their potential, build meaningful connections and see how leadership, technology and civic engagement can shape their futures,” said Linda R. Baker, institute interim director. “It is especially rewarding to watch students learn from one another, engage with successful role models and recognize the many ways they can make a difference in their communities.”
Media availability
Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the leadership weekend activities. For more information, contact Linda R. Baker, interim institute director and university professor, at 217-553-6660 or lrbaker@siu.edu, or Will Becque, communications and marketing associate, at 618-453-4009 or william.becque@siu.edu.
The program begins Saturday morning with leadership activities and concurrent sessions at SIU Carbondale. Students will explore leadership and artificial intelligence, along with personal development and self-care. The keynote address is by SIU alumnus Sydney Jordan, founder and CEO of Better (Y)ou Solutions. Students will participate in Saluki football game-day activities and have opportunities to connect with SIU students, university leaders and community role models.
Other activities include team-building exercises at the SIU Esports Arena, the “Conversations That Count” college student discussion, and evening programming at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.
Sunday's activities focus on leadership development, reflection and the presentation of the Paul Simon Leadership and Character Awards.
The late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, founder of the institute, established the Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend in November 2003 alongside then-Associate Director Mike Lawrence and Baker. The program connects young men from the Metro East with mentors, educational opportunities and experiences designed to encourage responsible citizenship and future leadership.