🎓 Lesson 7 – ICY Leaders

This lesson introduces students to the powerful legacy of Institute for Colored Youth graduates who shaped the future of Philadelphia through education, activism, and public service. Students explore the lives and leadership of Octavius Catto, Jacob C. White, Jr., and Fanny Jackson Coppin—each of whom exemplified ICY’s values in unique ways. Through speech analysis, essay revision, and historical investigation, students reflect on the power of education to cultivate civic leadership and oratorical excellence. The lesson culminates with students applying rhetorical and historical skills to elevate their own voices.

🎯 Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Analyze the leadership journeys of ICY graduates and how they contributed to Philadelphia’s civic life.

• Investigate how educational values were expressed in the lives of Octavius Catto, Jacob C. White, Jr., and Fanny Jackson Coppin.

• Examine primary sources including timelines, speeches, and memoirs to uncover historical insights.

• Practice oratorical delivery and essay revision using historical models.

• Reflect on how educational training and civic responsibility intersect in both past and present contexts.