Empower an Emerging Leader

What is this campaign all about? 

Sandra's passion for the environment was awakened last summer, when she had the rare chance to travel outside her hometown of Chicago tolearn about land contamination and preservation, and her own environmental footprint. Now she is seeking an experience that will deepen her understanding of complex issues and propel her future leadership. “I feel like it’s my duty to take part in making the Earth a healthy place to live,” she says, “For future generations to prosper.”

Sandra is just one example of the motivated students who attend Foresight Prep @ Oberlin College. The program has quickly established itself as a powerful force for developing young leaders. As a student in our Power of the Arts course, Sandra will connect her love for dance and hip hop arts with her commitment to addressing climate change. She will interview inspiring leaders, examine climate change impacts, and collaborate with her peers to create innovative hybrid artworks. She will emerge equipped with the insights and strategies required to create change, and become part of an ongoing network to support her future college and career success.

Her academic advisor agrees. She says, “Sandra is a leader who advocates for herself, and seeks to help others who struggle. The Foresight Prep program will allow her to continue thriving and growing, both socially and academically.”

Foresight Prep @ Oberlin College is committed to offering an accessible and inclusive opportunity that helps develop more diverse future leaders. More than two-thirds of our participants receive need-based financial aid, the majority of which is enabled by donations from individuals.

This year, we have received an especially competitive group of applications from students with financial need. We are inviting you to participate in empowering one of the most promising, through your donation of $5, $20, or $125 (or more!). Sandra is a change-maker whose potential we feel especially compelled to help cultivate.

In her words: “When I hear the word ‘sustainability,” I think of my ecological footprint, and having a greater impact on the entire world. This is not a job that I would do for a year, but for a lifetime.” 

Thank you for helping empowering Sandra for a lifetime of transformative change!

What is Foresight Prep @ Oberlin College?


Foresight Prep @ Oberlin is an intensive, pre-college institute for high school students passionate about social equity and the environment. We facilitate hands-on seminars designed to empower motivated high school students to take action on urgent issues, and a year-round network connecting alumni with real world changemakers. Unique amongst pre-college programs, Foresight Prep prioritizes experiential learning that empowers students to take action. By interviewing "real world" leaders, from corporate sustainability professionals to grassroots activists, and synthesizing their findings into the creation of their own transformative projects, students are equipped with the skills and insights to create positive change.

What, and when, is the Power of the Arts ? 


June 18 – July 1, 2017
Our impending climate crisis has inspired diverse artistic responses. Some seek to motivate action. Others are processing the emotional weight of the challenges that face us. Still others wish to call attention to the impact on vulnerable populations and communities of color, or to use their work to educate, build community, and create strategies for action and resilience. The course will begin with a grounding in the science of climate change. Students will research and experience a variety of existing climate-focused artworks as they explore and develop their own. Curbing global emissions requires a collaborative and multifaceted effort. Similarly, students will work across artistic disciplines, delving into disciplines both familiar and new to forge compelling hybrids inspired by profound global shifts.

 Where will your contributions go? 
$2,700 (Sandra’s Tuition)
$1,000 (Sandra’s Room & Board)

 Where any extra funds will go to:
·      Additional Need-Based Scholarships
·      Classroom Materials
·      Guest Speaker Honorariums
·      Field Trip Travel Costs

Thank YOU for taking the time to read about our program, and for supporting us in making Sandra's participation this summer possible. If you have questions about any aspect of our campaign, please reach out in the comments, or via any of the channels detailed on our website. 

Foresight Design Initiative is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.