Our passion is helping kids pursue theirs
When we’re working on something that we’re passionate about, the work takes on more meaning. We’re more engaged. More willing to put in the extra work. It’s our mission to engage young people with a program that teaches invaluable life skills through the interests and issues they care most about. We then show them how those things can impact our communities in positive and profound ways.
Project-Based Approach
Kids live in the real world. Giving them real world problems to solve based on the things they care about makes the work they do tangible, personal and actionable. Project-based learning has been proven to engage students more fully. We use it as the basis for our program, allowing kids to turn a future they can envision into a reality they can see.
Social-Emotional Learning
Communication. Perseverance. Goal setting. Independence. Building consensus. Some may call them “soft skills” but they’re the strong foundation on which productive, successful careers and lives are built. We seek to cultivate these skills in kids through our systematic curriculum and project-based approach to learning.
Civic Engagement
The U.S has some of the lowest voter participation rates. Apathy and disengagement have taken hold. The only way to change this is to show people that change is possible. Strong voices from a small group or even a single person can be all the world needs. We bring kids into the civic process to show how real change, both large and small, can become a reality.
How It WoRks
CLF has an established and proven program that gradually builds to give kids an ever-growing set of skills to bring to their projects and, ultimately, their lives as a whole. But it only works because they put in the work. Building a curriculum that encourages young people to develop projects that they are passionate about keeps them interested, leaning forward and excited for what’s next.
The CLF CurriculuM
Over the past two decades the staff and board at CLF have developed a step-by-step curriculum that builds critical social and emotional skills while engaging kids in real, world-changing work.
HOW EACH SESSION WORKS
Each session uses interactive group environments to build leadership, relationship and communication skills.
REAL LIFE PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Kids choose a real project that’s meaningful to them that they build on incrementally with every session from planning to execution.
CELEBRATING AND APPLYING THE LEARNING
The program ends each year where students have the chance to share the fruits of their hard work.
Why It Works
For close to two decades, CLF has proven the power of turning passion into purpose. But its success is only possible because of the partners and kids that invest their time and energy into it. Every student success story is a testament to everyone that played a role along the way.
Our Graduates
The success of our program can be seen in the young people who’ve completed it. Graduates of our program have gone on to be leaders in business, education, public policy as well as beacons in their own communities. The real work they’ve done in pursuing their passion has resulted in real change in the world.
Our Partners
While we provide the tools and support to set the program in motion and continue its momentum, our partners provide the time and energy to truly bring it to life. Schools, organizations and their program facilitators are invested partners in CLF. Just like our program teaches, it takes teamwork to accomplish anything.
How We Support you
When you bring the CLF program to your school or organization you get an entire team dedicated to helping you and your kids succeed. Between onboarding and training, regular check-ins, financial assistance or special events, the CLF staff supports its partners every step of the way.
Help us further our mission
Through CLF, kids learn to think independently. But they can’t do it alone. It’s through the help of individual donations and corporate gifts that we can provide kids, teachers, schools and organizations the support to continue turning passion into purpose. Click below to make a donation or to find other ways you can get involved with CLF.