OUDC is a leadership development program for Washington-area African American and Jewish high school students. Their mission is to build a future generation of community leaders who will work to eradiate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination, and to promote respect, understanding and cooperation within their communities. OUDC works with high school juniors, engaging them in a variety of training and experiences. During the first six months of the program, students participate in workshops, meetings, lectures and activities, learning about the religion, history and culture of African Americans and Jews in the United States.

The Wellspring Foundation grant supported OUDC’s Class 11’s Civil Rights Journey. Class 11’s civil rights journey consisted of a 25 day trip visiting places like the Lower East Side of New York, “Sweet” Auburn in Atlanta, and Beale Street in Memphis, which are historic urban centers that were home to pioneers in both the Jewish and African American communities.

The students met with a diverse speaker list that included social justice advocates, clergy men and women, university professors and trailblazers for change, which helped them more fully developed their own leadership styles and social consciousness. OUDC’s Class 11 students shared with us some of their inspirational evaluations from their trip:

"I have become much more motivated about changing things that I see wrong in my school and neighborhood."

"I feel ready to go out and do great things. Instead of thinking that I am too young to make a real change or too shy to attempt to do so, I am imbued with the spirit of justice and empowered by the promise of my peers."

"I am a better leader, listener and more interested in current events. The trip taught me to truly appreciate history and understand its value."