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RILEY'S WAY COUNCILS Connecting public and private high school students to lead with empathy and kindness and drive positive change in their communities. |
What We Do
Riley’s Way Councils connect public and private high schools to inspire teens to lead with empathy and kindness, and create programs that drive positive change in their communities. We directly empower youth to lead the Riley’s Way movement by building connections and fostering meaningful relationships with peers, mentors, and community members.
Through the Council, teens practice leading with kindness and building bridges across barriers in their communities. A single Council consists of about twenty students from two partnered schools – one public and one private – who meet regularly and learn, grow, and serve together as community change-makers. A faculty member from each school joins the students on the council.
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OUR IMPACT* Through our Councils, students: • Build connections across and within their schools. Riley's Way Councils provide students with opportunities to build relationships, challenge assumptions, and gain a deeper understanding of different identities and experiences. • Build and practice leadership skills that emphasize kindness and empathy. • Learn about and improve social issues in their communities. Students work with a community partner to design and implement a service project. |
Current Councils
• The Young Women’s Leadership School in East Harlem + The Nightingale-Bamford School
• The Young Women’s Leadership School of the Bronx + The Horace Mann School
• The Young Women’s Leadership School in Astoria + The Hewitt School
Learn About Some of the Councils' Work
Learn About Some of the Councils' Work
Buddy Reading Program 2020
Our teens will be paired with Kindergarten students from the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, a long-time Riley’s Way partner. They will spend 30 minutes each week, for at least 4 weeks. Paired students will meet virtually on Zoom to read together.
“The importance of reading to children cannot be understated, because reading aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world around them by building background knowledge and expanding their listening and speaking vocabularies.”
-Michelle Haynes, Principal of Sisulu-Walker Charter School
Family Matters Dinner 2019
On Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 our Nightingale-Bamford School and TYWLS of East Harlem’s Riley’s Way Council continued our relationship with Talk2Me and Circles of Support and our second dinner for the women impacted by incarceration and their families. Guests and Council members remembered one another from last year and resumed their conversations about the impact of incarceration on the lives of the women and their families.
Click here, here and here to read more about the event from our students.
Teen-to-Teen Letter Writing Event 2019
On May 2nd, 2019, the Hewitt and TYWLS Astoria Riley’s Way Council hosted a letter writing event with the grassroots organization Don’t Separate Families. The 80 attendees wrote over 100 letters to the 2,000 teens being held at the Homestead Detention Center in Florida.
Council Bonding 2019
Both of our Councils came together over a weekend in May to bond through karaoke, cupcake decorating, and arcade games at Dave & Busters. Through these meaningful connections, our Councils are able to do deep, important work together.
Hewitt Family Picnic 2018
The Hewitt and TYWLS Astoria Council supported the Hewitt Family Picnic on September 29, 2018, where they helped create a Kindness Mural with the elementary school students!
Riley’s Way Council 2018 Retreat
On September 22, 2018 the Riley’s Way Councils attended our first retreat, led by the dynamic Erin Cohn from Leadership+Design. We engaged in team building exercises, explored our strengths (“Superpowers”), developed friendships, and reflected. By developing a strong foundation within each council, we are ready to spread kindness and empathy together, as a team.
On May 29, 2018, The Nightigale-Bamford and TYWLS East Harlem Council hosted a dinner for the women of Circles of Support, Raising My Voice, and Talk2Me. The Council organized every detail of the night, created an elegant evening from start to finish, gave speeches, personal gift bags, and led thoughtful icebreakers. They learned what it was like to be impacted by incarceration and listened to the many personal stories of strength, perseverance, and hope.
On March 3, 2018, the Hewitt and TYWLS Astoria Council distributed 120 Riley’s Way care packages, meals, and cupcakes to 34 seniors with big smiles on their faces! They enjoyed the conversations with each other and the seniors, spreading kindness and friendship.
Buddy Reading Program 2020
Our teens will be paired with Kindergarten students from the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, a long-time Riley’s Way partner. They will spend 30 minutes each week, for at least 4 weeks. Paired students will meet virtually on Zoom to read together.
“The importance of reading to children cannot be understated, because reading aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world around them by building background knowledge and expanding their listening and speaking vocabularies.”
-Michelle Haynes, Principal of Sisulu-Walker Charter School
Family Matters Dinner 2019
On Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 our Nightingale-Bamford School and TYWLS of East Harlem’s Riley’s Way Council continued our relationship with Talk2Me and Circles of Support and our second dinner for the women impacted by incarceration and their families. Guests and Council members remembered one another from last year and resumed their conversations about the impact of incarceration on the lives of the women and their families.
Click here, here and here to read more about the event from our students.
Teen-to-Teen Letter Writing Event 2019
On May 2nd, 2019, the Hewitt and TYWLS Astoria Riley’s Way Council hosted a letter writing event with the grassroots organization Don’t Separate Families. The 80 attendees wrote over 100 letters to the 2,000 teens being held at the Homestead Detention Center in Florida.
Council Bonding 2019
Both of our Councils came together over a weekend in May to bond through karaoke, cupcake decorating, and arcade games at Dave & Busters. Through these meaningful connections, our Councils are able to do deep, important work together.
Hewitt Family Picnic 2018
The Hewitt and TYWLS Astoria Council supported the Hewitt Family Picnic on September 29, 2018, where they helped create a Kindness Mural with the elementary school students!
Riley’s Way Council 2018 Retreat
On September 22, 2018 the Riley’s Way Councils attended our first retreat, led by the dynamic Erin Cohn from Leadership+Design. We engaged in team building exercises, explored our strengths (“Superpowers”), developed friendships, and reflected. By developing a strong foundation within each council, we are ready to spread kindness and empathy together, as a team.
On May 29, 2018, The Nightigale-Bamford and TYWLS East Harlem Council hosted a dinner for the women of Circles of Support, Raising My Voice, and Talk2Me. The Council organized every detail of the night, created an elegant evening from start to finish, gave speeches, personal gift bags, and led thoughtful icebreakers. They learned what it was like to be impacted by incarceration and listened to the many personal stories of strength, perseverance, and hope.
On March 3, 2018, the Hewitt and TYWLS Astoria Council distributed 120 Riley’s Way care packages, meals, and cupcakes to 34 seniors with big smiles on their faces! They enjoyed the conversations with each other and the seniors, spreading kindness and friendship.
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Expansion Plans* We are looking to expand in the next year to include a boys Council! Stay tuned for more details. |
