Welcome
The Ella Baker Institute is a non-profit organization centered on leadership development and community well-being. We activate this through organizational development, youth development, and direct services to communities of color.
Giving Light
At the Ella Baker Institute (EBI), we live through the wisdom of our namesake: “Give light and people will find the way.”
In honor of Ella Baker’s enduring legacy, EBI was created to provide community-responsive learning experiences centered on catalyzing youth leadership and community well-being. With human-centered expertise that embodies both breadth and depth, we support organizations, schools, and communities in engaging collective power to generate sustainable impact and well-being.
Community connections, global impact.
Cultivating sustainable change for community well-being.
Check out our Measurement Learning and Evaluation (MEL) Community of Practice (CoP) Convening.
Testimonials
“EBI’s presence has helped cultivate a culture where the school and community work in tandem to build a brighter future for our children. Their service leadership model has embedded a sense of ownership, advocacy, and collaboration, ensuring that families, students, and educators are empowered to drive lasting change in Brownsville.”
Tawana Vasquez, Principal
The Riverdale Avenue Community School
“We will launch our 4th cohort this summer for our online professional development on inclusive practices and our Sensory Room Monday's collaboration has exceeded our expectations meeting a real need on campus as demonstrated in our survey results from those attending. None of this would be possible without the incredible support we received by participating in the MEL community of practice through the Ella Baker Institute which has deepened our commitment to storytelling for impact and given us the tools to be courageous in continuing this work under these current conditions.”
Dr. Holly Manaseri, PhD, Associate Specialist + Faculty
Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Literacy, Leadership & Legacy in Action
As part of our Youth Leadership and Community Partnership strategy, the Ella Baker Institute facilitated a school-based literacy and leadership experience featuring Jalen Hurts, who read from his children’s book, Better Than a Touchdown.
This engagement was designed to:
• Strengthen literacy engagement through culturally relevant authorship
• Increase leadership identity formation among students
• Reinforce character development and growth mindset
• Expand access to high-profile role models in historically under-resourced communities
At EBI, we view exposure as a leadership intervention. When young people witness excellence modeled authentically, it shifts what they believe is possible.
