LEAD Academy: Lincoln's Path to Leadership

05/05/2023

We had a great wrap-up and final gathering of the Looking for Lincoln LEAD program this past weekend!

LEAD met at the Lincoln Home site in Springfield, and the day included a private tour of the Lincoln home and neighborhood. The group went over their final presentations on the various aspects of leadership exemplified by Abraham Lincoln, then presented them to an enthusiastic group.

A special thank you to our supportive Lincoln Home Park staff and Ranger Isaiah, staff and graduate students from Southern Illinois University, and Kay Smith & Mark Pohlad from the Abraham Lincoln Association. Plus, a special shout-out to our special guest, Abraham Lincoln.

We look forward to the 2023-24 LEAD events!

What is LEAD? LEAD Academy is robust, one-of-a kind youth leadership program that utilizes immersive experiences to empower emerging leaders to develop leadership qualities. We specifically select students who have the potential to be leaders, but may not see it in themselves. Participants spend a full week exploring the qualities that made Abraham Lincoln such a great leader in his day. They learn why those same qualities are so important in our leaders today, and how, as individuals, they can apply those qualities as they develop their own leadership skills for the future.

The LEAD Academy is a collaborative imitative developed by Looking for Lincoln, in partnership with Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the National Park Service; as well as Union Pacific Railroad, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois College. The Abraham Lincoln Association and the Illinois Extension 4-H Office are major supporters of the academy.

02/22/2023

Are you listening? Don't miss it!

NPR Illinois and Looking for Lincoln are joining forces all week long, Feb 20-24, 2023 to tell a handful of some of the lesser-known stories of early Illinois.

WUIS's Community Voices program is featuring the 'Looking for Lincoln Stories' podcast series. These episodes tell the inspiring stories and struggles of African Americans that connect to the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. The series includes narrators Reggie Guyton, Kevin Ford, and Paris Ervin.
Each day, the program will feature a segment of various episodes of the podcast, that tell engaging tales that weaves narratives of our state's African American history. These include the stories of New Philadelphia, an early Illinois Emancipation Celebration, the tale of Susan Richardson, and African American's in Lincoln's Springfield.

Tune in each day at 91.9 in Central Illinois (WUIS), and 89.3 in West Central Illinois (WIPA). You can also live stream on the WUIS website at
https://www.nprillinois.org/

The broadcast will be archived on the WUIS website
https://www.nprillinois.org/community-voices/2023-02-21/the-looking-for-lincoln-stories-podcast-amplifies-african-american-stories-from-abe-lincolns-time-community-voices

The full series of 'Looking for Lincoln Stories' podcasts and videos can be found at https://www.lookingforlincoln.org/education/stories

01/17/2023

What a great time we had at L.E.A.D. this past week!

What is LEAD?

LEAD Academy is robust, one-of-a kind youth leadership program that utilizes immersive experiences to empower emerging leaders to develop leadership qualities.

Participants spend time exploring the qualities that made Abraham Lincoln such a great leader in his day. They learn why those same qualities are so important in our leaders today, and how, as individuals, they can apply those qualities as they develop their own leadership skills for the future.

In 2023, the kickoff of LEAD was held at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. The great weather and fun participants allowed a lot of indoor and outdoor activities at the SIUE Touch of Nature Center. This great facility helped make for a wonderful time at LEAD.

Thank you to our leaders, sponsors, and participants for a great LEAD 2023!

Learn more at https://www.lookingforlincoln.org/education/lead

Learn about the Touch of Nature Center at SIU at https://ton.siu.edu/

06/16/2022

06/07/2022

Join us here at the Lincoln Home this summer as History Comes Alive returns for its 13th season from June 3rd – August 7th! Meet the Lincolns, enjoy historic recipes, play period games, hear tales from Lincoln's Springfield and much more!

For more information about History Comes Alive 2022 visit: https://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/EventDetails/?id=23485


Here is a full list of events for this Friday at the Lincoln Home:

10:00 a.m. Toys and Games with National Park Service Rangers

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Neighborhood*

11:00 a.m. Stories from Lincoln's Springfield

1:00 p.m. History Cooks! Food of Lincoln's Springfield

2:00 p.m. Soothing Syrups: 1800s Medicine*

3:00 p.m. Freedom Seekers: Stories of the Underground Railroad*

3:30 p.m. Stories from Lincoln's Springfield

4:00 p.m. Soothing Syrups: 1800s Medicine*

* = Costumed Interpreters

Photo Credit: Springfield Visitors Center, SCVB
Photo Description: Lincoln Interpreter dressed in a white suit poses with young child in the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Visitor Center.

03/03/2020

This emerging leader is using technology to capture information for processing during group debrief. We encourage the respectful use to technology throughout the LEAD Academy.

02/27/2020

During the LEAD Academy, the emerging leaders visit the Dr. Richard Eells House in Quincy, IL. Dr. Eells was a conductor on the Underground Railroad and President of the Illinois Anti-Slavery Party in 1843. Emerging leaders learn about the Underground Railroad and the men and women who fought to end slavery.

Learn more about Dr. Richard Eells and his story at: https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/il3.htm

02/25/2020

"A man's character is like a tree and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." - Abraham Lincoln

02/20/2020

Emerging leaders pose with statue of Abraham Lincoln while walking in Lincoln's footsteps in his hometown of Springfield, IL.