Moses Brown School became a hub for student leadership development in January, hosting the 2026 Quaker Youth Leadership Conference (QYLC). Moses Brown welcomed nearly 200 students and faculty from 22 different Quaker schools across the country for a transformative three days centered on the theme of "Creat(iv)e Change."

An annual event, QYLC aims to provide a space for students at Quaker schools to engage in discussions, workshops, and activities that promote leadership development, community building, and spiritual growth. The energy behind the 2026 gathering was driven by a dedicated team of MB student leaders, who curated an experience that challenged their peers to see Providence not just as a host city, but as a living classroom for community impact. A core tenet of the weekend was the idea that creativity is a vital tool for positive change. 

At the opening assembly, MB student hosts welcomed their peers and shared their thinking behind their choice of creative change as a theme remarking that “creative change is a reflection of the Quaker peace testimony. It's a way to fight injustice and work for change without violence. We love that the arts do a really cool thing: they let us step into other people's shoes and see from new perspectives…and they encourage collaboration instead of isolation.”

The 2026 cohort stepped off the MB campus to engage directly with the visionary artists, educators, and community leaders who define the region's cultural landscape. Students learned how art-making can connect to  mental health at PeaceLove Studios in Pawtucket and experienced collaborative painting at New Urban Arts, a community art workshop for teens. Others were granted a rare opportunity to visit the home studio of the global muralists behind Tape Art to learn about public art, or attended a workshop with collaborators at The Avenue Concept to explore the possibilities of murals and sign-making. At Community Music Works, participants saw firsthand how free K–12 music education can serve the broader community. In a workshop with ProvSlam contributor Naffisatou Koulibaly, students discovered the simplicity and power of blackout poetry, creating new messages out of pre-existing texts. 

Leadership also requires understanding the past and the pressing needs of the present. Students delved into the history of offset printing in Black history with historian Marco McWilliams and made their own prints with master printmaker Jacques Bidon. Others explored affordable housing initiatives with One Neighborhood Builders, and paid a moving visit to the Ruth Simmons Center to view a new  exhibit featuring the drawings of Israeli and Palestinian children.

While the city visits provided inspiration, the time spent on campus provided the grounding. The weekend was anchored by three moving Meetings for Worship, where students processed their experiences in the Quaker tradition. From MB Theatre teacher Steve Kidd’s powerful performance of Sigh/Omelas to workshops on the Theater of the Oppressed and improvisational theater with local troupe Improv Jones, the group learned how storytelling and empathy  are essential tools for navigating difficult times.

Thanks to the tireless preparations by countless MB faculty and staff, the conference was a success, fueled by the amazing food from local favorites Pizza J and East Side Pockets. The 2026 QYLC left this nationwide network of students inspired by the "creative change" flourishing in Providence, and ready to bring that same energy back to their own school communities.

To see some of the QYLC action, watch this video reel!