What We Do
We foster leadership. We motivate people to take action. We promote social justice and human rights for all. For more than three decades, our programming has epitomized Eleanor Roosevelt’s passion for, and commitment to, igniting civic leadership. Our work is focused in three key pillars: human rights, intellectual freedom and voters’ rights.
We’re also proud of our past accomplishments over many years in girls leadership, community college education and our medals honoring outstanding individuals – all in the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt’s drive for change.
Banned Book Awards
The Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature Honors Authors and Literary Advocates who Advance Human Rights in the Face of an Alarming Rise in Book Banning and Censorship. Today, Eleanor would be at the forefront of the fight against book banning in the United States.
Human Rights
At the Eleanor Roosevelt Center, we believe that safeguarding the rights of all people is the foundation of Global Affirmation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Each of our programs reflect the values set forth in the UDHR.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Val-kill Medal
For more than three decades, the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Medal ceremoniously honored individuals who embraced Eleanor Roosevelt’s call to build a better world through humanitarian efforts in education, advocacy, social justice, and civil and human rights. Past medalists are role models for the larger community, setting the standard for community values.
Girls Leadership Worldwide (GLW)
From 1997-2019, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val Kill hosted Girls’ Leadership Worldwide (GLW), a one-of-a-kind experience for young women to discover their passions and unwrap a world of leadership potential. Girls from across the country and around the globe were brought together for a unique nine-day leadership program inspired by the leadership legacy of First Lady of the World Eleanor Roosevelt.
ELEANOR’S COMMUNITY
COLLEGE EMERGING
LEADERS (ECCEL)
From 2013 to 2019, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val Kill hosted ECCEL to take 40 community college students on a journey of self-discovery and develop leadership skills, preparing them to succeed in all aspects of their lives– personal, academic, professional and community. This dynamic experience incorporated weekend-long retreats, interactive workshops, field trips, and experiential learning opportunities