Global Scholar: Atlanta, GA

Explore our history and present, to design our shared future.

Global Scholar: Atlanta, GA. July 12 – 18, 2026.
Based at Emory University, Atlanta, GA (with travel to Montgomery, AL)

About The Program

Join us for a transformative experience in Atlanta, GA, and along the Civil Rights Trail in Montgomery. Explore how history, systems, and movements intersect–and how young people can design what comes next. Based in Atlanta with travel to Montgomery, AL, this immersive residential program connects the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement with modern tools for systems change and social innovation.

Through workshops, site visits, and collaborative design sessions, Scholars examine systemic injustice, collective action, and the role of youth in shaping equitable futures. This experience blends history, creativity, and strategy – empowering participants to build bold, values-driven solutions grounded in community impact.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store:

We begin at Emory University, to explore global citizenship, leadership, and the power of the youth voice.

We meet with experts at The Carter Center to discuss human rights, democracy, conflict resolution, and women’s rights around the world. We also visit CARE USA to learn how global organizations are expanding access to education, health care, clean water, and economic opportunity.

We explore downtown Atlanta, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, which includes Dr. King’s birth home, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, and more.

We then travel to Montgomery, Alabama — one of the epicenters of the American Civil Rights Movement — to experience the Equal Justice Initiative’s extraordinary Legacy Sites. Through immersive storytelling, the Legacy Museum traces the American journey from slavery to the present, exploring the enduring legacy of racial injustice while illuminating the courage, resilience, and leadership of those who fought to build a more just society. Students will also visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, and Montgomery Square.

We then return to Atlanta to reflect on the week together, connect these lessons to each student’s own leadership journey, develop action plans for the year ahead, and celebrate becoming part of a lifelong community of Global Scholars.

What’s Included

Residential housing at Emory University in Atlanta, GA
All meals, transportation (including Montgomery travel), and program materials
Dynamic workshops, guest speakers, and youth-led design sessions
Cultural outings and community care spaces
Ongoing mentorship and digital collaboration after the program

This experience is ideal for:

Youth interested in systems change, social justice, storytelling, entrepreneurship, or movement-building.

Apply Now

Details and Logistics:

Who is this program for?

This program is for rising 8th-12th graders who are curious, bold, and visionary. You do not need any particular prior experience or coursework; the most important quality we look for is curiosity and eagerness to explore urgent global challenges and become changemakers. The program is held in English.

Where will this program take place?

We are based at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, with travel to Montgomery, AL. Emory is a beautiful, historic campus with easy access to shops and stores.

Housing: Scholars stay in a secure dorm on campus alongside our program staff. Most rooms are double occupancy, with a shared bathroom on the floor. Our residential staff-to-student ratio is approximately 1:9. Laundry facilities and vending machines are available in the dorm.

Meals: While we eat many of our meals in the dining hall, we also eat in downtown Atlanta and Montgomery on the days we are visiting offices or sightseeing. The campus also has several restaurants and shops. We are always able to accommodate special diets or allergies; please share anything we should know on your welcome survey.

Price: We are committed to ensuring as many students as possible can benefit from this life-changing experience. We are committed to offering an honest and accessible price. We are significantly more affordable than any of our peer programs. This is not due to any difference in quality of programming. Rather, we are a mission-focused non-profit organization, not a business looking to extract excessive costs from students and their families.

The application process: We offer one application for all of our programs, found here. We strive to respond to all applications within 7 days. We will send you a link to register for your chosen program(s) in your acceptance email. Please make an initial deposit for the program within 10 days of acceptance to save your spot.

How do I apply for financial aid? We will share the financial aid application with admitted students, and release aid decisions once per month. There is no application fee.

What’s Included: The program fee includes room, board, materials, and the program itself. Scholars are responsible for paying for transportation to/from Atlanta, supplemental meals or snacks, and spending money. Scholars are also expected to pay for lunch on the three days we are sightseeing downtown. Although it’s hard to estimate, a reasonable amount of spending money might be $50-75/week. Scholars may also opt for airport pick up at their point of arrival (Atlanta airport) for a small transfer fee.

What else can I do with AMP Global Youth this summer? This summer, we are offering programs in Washington, DC, Atlanta GA and Online. Here’s an overview:

Session 1: June 28-July 3. Based at American University, Washington, DC (weekend extension available)
ReGen Youth Summit: July 5-8. Based at American University, Washington DC and/or Virtual (weekend extension available)
Session 3: July 12-18. Based at Emory University, Atlanta, GA (with travel to Montgomery, AL)
DC Extension: July 3-5. Based at American University, Washington DC [Sightseeing, July 4, College Tours for Scholars in Sessions 1 or 2 only]

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are a virtual office, so email is usually the fastest way to reach us: GlobalScholar@AMPGlobalYouth.org. We are very happy to schedule a time to speak, too!

We hope to see you in Atlanta this summer!

2026 Dates

Global Scholar: Washington, DC

Sun June 28-Sun July 5
American University
Washington, DC

Sun July 12 – Sun July 19
Emory University
Washington, DC

Global Scholar Virtual

Sun July 5 – Fri July 10
Online
Washington, DC

Global Scholar: July 4 Extension

July 3-5, 2026
American University (DC)

Global Scholar: DC Youth Summit

July 5-8, 2026
American University (DC)

Program Highlights

Explore urgent global challenges

through seminars with experts. We offer unparalleled access to leaders and places where decisions get made. Click to see our speakers.

Build powerful skills

through our approach that gives you the knowledge and skills you need to become a global citizen and leader.
Click to see our impact.

Be bold and visionary

through becoming a global leader. Global Scholar builds skills that cannot be gained elsewhere, which you can immediately apply to your work and life. Click to see our curriculum.