AUGUST 2026

15th Annual Urban Leadership Institute — First Responder Academy

August 17-20 & 24-27. Apply now.

Urban Leadership Institute (ULI) is an 8-day, free summer conference for accepted high school students designed to empower the next generation of leaders. ULI works on key leadership traits like communication, decision making, and teamwork, as well as service-learning projects.

August 17-20 & 24-27 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. daily

LOCATION: Utica Area

(Exact location to be announced soon.)

ULI is for teens who are an incoming 9th through 12th grader in the coming school year, or a 2026 graduate. Students are expected to attend ULI on all days it is offered.

No cost to accepted students. Each accepted student will receive a full scholarship to attend.

At ULI, youth will:

Develop valuable leadership and team-building skills

Experience what it is like to be a first responder

Gain a new perspective on the effect they can have on the world

Experience hands-on activities led by field experts

Apply Now.

Both the student and a parent/guardian must complete an application for the student to be considered for participation in ULI.

By participating in the Oneida County Summer Youth Program you can be paid to attend. Complete this application (see for requirements and resctrictions) then contact us for assistance wtih applying for more information.

Transportation to our program:
Utica residents only: Free bussing to and from home is available each day.
Rome City School District will be providing free bussing for their students to the Utica program site with various pick-up locations.  More information to come.
All other students will need to be transported to the program location by 8:45 a.m. and picked up by 2:45 p.m. each day.

New York State Education Department’s Portrait of a Graduate defines six attributes every high school student should develop to succeed in college, careers, and civic life — including critical thinking, effective communication, and a future-focused mindset. ULI was designed with all of these in mind. Sudents work alongside real first responders, apply leadership and decision-making skills in high-stakes environments, and explore career pathways they may never have considered. It’s the kind of authentic, real-world learning experience NYSED points to as essential — and it’s free and available right here in the Mohawk Valley.