The First Ring Schools Collaborative (FRSC) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation to support its
Student Leadership Institute for the 2025–26 school year. The grant will help the Collaborative continue to empower high school students from 16 districts surrounding the City of Cleveland as well as three schools from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District with the skills, tools, and confidence to lead change within their schools and communities.
Now in its ninth year, the First Ring Student Leadership Institute (FRSLI) gives students—especially those with untapped potential—opportunities to grow as leaders through an intensive, research-based program that spans the academic year. Participants work in school-based teams to conduct Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) on topics that affect their daily lives, such as school safety, student engagement, attendance, and mental health. The year culminates in student presentations of actionable recommendations to school leaders and regional decision-makers.
“This program is transforming individual students—it is cultivating a new generation of thoughtful, community-minded leaders,” said Dr. Dominick A. Kaple, Superintendent of South Euclid-Lyndhurst City Schools. “What makes it especially powerful is its intentional focus on students who may not have traditional leadership roles but thrive when given the opportunity to develop and apply their voice in meaningful ways.”
With the support of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, the Institute will expand its Year 2 and 3 tracks, enabling returning students to tackle regional issues and mentor new participants. Students also collaborate with faculty from Cleveland State University’s Center for Urban Education and peers from the Ohio State University Student Leadership Research Collaborative.
“We are honored to receive this support from the Jennings Foundation,” said Director Bill Wagner, First Ring Schools Collaborative. “This grant will allow us to strengthen the experience for students by deepening leadership skill-building, enhancing public speaking instruction, and offering increased opportunities for collaboration across districts—all while remaining mindful of how we use our resources.”
The FRSLI serves more than 140 students annually, supported by over 30 school advisors. Its reach reflects the broader mission of the First Ring Schools Collaborative, which represents 16 districts committed to addressing the unique challenges of poverty, mobility, and equity in Northeast Ohio’s urban-suburban communities.
Established in 1959, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation supports deep learning and creativity in Ohio’s public PK–12 schools. Its investment in FRSLI underscores a shared commitment to equipping students with the skills and confidence to shape their futures—and their communities.
For more information about the First Ring Student Leadership Institute, visit www.escneo.org. To view last year’s yearbook, click here.