Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within

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Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within

donate now
Join Mailing List

Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within

donate now

Journey through history, cultures, and transformative dialogue

A global youth leadership program that helps young people develop the wisdom, courage, and compassion needed to become global citizens.

Discover Arete Video

“Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Odysseus, Penelope—if you let them become people to you, not just part of a myth, then it is your heart that is opened up as well as your intellect.”
        — Ingrid Johnson, Arete West Participant

“Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Odysseus,
Penelope—if you let them become people to you,
not just part of a myth, then it is your heart that
is opened up as well as your intellect.”
— Ingrid Johnson, Arete West Participant

Journey through history, cultures, and transformative dialogue

A global youth leadership program that helps young people develop the wisdom, courage, and compassion needed to become global citizens.

Discover Arete Video

“Arete was my first practice of facing fear to find excellence.”

— Christina Teply, Arete West Participant

“Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Odysseus,
Penelope—if you let them become people to you,
not just part of a myth, then it is your heart that
is opened up as well as your intellect.”
— Ingrid Johnson, Arete West Participant

Journey through history, cultures, and transformative dialogue

A global youth leadership program that helps young people develop the wisdom, courage, and compassion needed to become global citizens.

Discover Arete Video

“Living and learning in the greatest classrooms
in the world did not stop when Arete landed back in San Francisco. It simply started.”
— Callie Anderson, Arete West Participant

“Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Odysseus,
Penelope—if you let them become people to you,
not just part of a myth, then it is your heart that
is opened up as well as your intellect.”
— Ingrid Johnson, Arete West Participant

Journey through history, cultures, and transformative dialogue

A global youth leadership program that helps young people develop the wisdom, courage, and compassion needed to become global citizens.

Discover Arete Video

“ To truly engage in a culture, one must walk
its paths, breathe its air, and interact with its people.”
— Bill Taylor, Arete West Founder

“Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Odysseus,
Penelope—if you let them become people to you,
not just part of a myth, then it is your heart that
is opened up as well as your intellect.”
— Ingrid Johnson, Arete West Participant

The Arete Youth Academy

The Arete Youth Academy is a transformative eleven-month program (8 months for the 2026 cohort) that brings together students from around the world who meet virtually twice a month for guided discussions led by experienced, humanistic mentors. Sessions also feature guest advisors who embody the ethos of a global citizen—scientists, educators, peace activists, doctors, artists, and athletes—who share their personal journeys and insights with participants.

 

Inspired by the academies of Plato and Aristotle, as well as the modern Arete West program, AYA participants explore ethical leadership, dialogue, nonviolent conflict resolution, and the shared values that unite humanity through a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates philosophy, history, science, and the arts to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world. The program culminates in an international 6-8 week global study tour, where participants visit historic sites, collaborate with peers abroad, and form lifelong connections grounded in compassion and purpose.

Begin your journey. Ignite the fire of wisdom within.

Apply now

AYA PROGRAM PILLARS

WISDOM CURRICULUM

Explore history’s greatest thinkers and ideas through the lens of peacebuilding, ethics, conflict resolution, and the transformative power of dialogue

HUMANISTIC MENTORSHIP

Learn from resilient, values-driven leaders who embody deep listening, compassion, and a commitment to personal transformation and service to others

GLOBAL TOUR

Walk in the footsteps of those who shaped humanity, engaging in on-site learning, cross-cultural dialogue, student exchanges, and local service learning experiences that connect theory with action

DISCOVER THE WORLD

Explore the ideas, cultures, and challenges that shaped our world while building meaningful connections with people across the globe.

Learn more

AYA launches 2026 Global Tour

Maya Soetoro joins AYA as Advisor

AYA as an advisor, bringing rich experience in peace education, youth and climate justice, and global leadership. As a Faculty Specialist at the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and as a consultant‑leader with the Obama Foundation Asia‑Pacific leadership program, she blends academic insight with real‑world activism. Her involvement deepens AYA’s commitment to nurturing compassionate, globally‑minded young leaders.

READ MORE ABOUT MAYA

AYA launches 2026 Global Tour

ollowing months of meaningful dialogue, mentorship, study, and reflection, AYA Creative Scholars began their two month global tour on June 18 in Prague, Czech Republic. Their journey will continue through 12 countries across Europe and the Middle East, where learning and experience will come together in profound ways. During their journey, they will forge lasting friendships, gain deeper insight into themselves, the cultures and histories of the Middle East and the West, and grow as global citizens through shared cultural exchange experiences.

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Jan Oberg joins AYA as Advisor

AYA as an advisor, offering a lifetime of work in peacebuilding, nonviolence, and international diplomacy. As founder of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Dr. Oberg has advised governments and worked on the ground in conflict zones, bringing invaluable insight to AYA’s vision for ethical global leadership by inspiring compassionate dialogue, critical thinking, collaborative problem solving, and resilience, while empowering future leaders with empathy, integrity, cross-cultural understanding, and purpose.

READ MORE ABOUT JAN

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GIVE TO AYA

Help shape a more compassionate and thoughtful
world—one student at a time.

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GIVE TO AYA

Help shape a more compassionate and thoughtful world—one student at a time.
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Your contribution is tax-deductible.

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Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund

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Painted by Renaissance master Raphael, “The School of Athens” brings together history’s greatest thinkers—Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Ptolemy, and others—in a grand hall of learning. Each figure represents a unique pursuit: ethics, reason, mathematics, metaphysics, and the search for truth. Raphael didn’t just paint a scene—he captured the human aspiration to grow, question, and collaborate across all fields of life: philosophy, science, art, and civic society. These diverse minds are united not by power or conformity, but by a shared purpose: to elevate humanity, to cultivate virtue, and to help each person achieve their arete.

Support the Arete Youth Academy through your donor-advised fund or by including us in your will or estate plan.

To recommend a grant through your DAF (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard), direct it to:
Agora Productions, Inc.
EIN: 20-8516833
Please note “Arete Youth Academy” in the designation.

To make a planned gift, you can help ensure that future generations benefit from an education grounded in peace, dialogue, and global citizenship.

We’re happy to work with you and your advisor to make the process simple and meaningful.
Contact: AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org

Many employers match donations made to Agora Productions, Inc.—the nonprofit home of Arete Youth Academy. It’s a simple way to amplify your impact and support transformative education for emerging global leaders. Just enter your company name in the popup window to the right and follow the steps to submit your match request.

If your company or institution is interested in supporting AYA in other ways, such as partnerships, grants, visibility opportunities, co-branded materials, or speaking engagements with our founders or advisors, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us at AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org to explore meaningful collaboration.

We welcome donations by check, bank transfer (ACH), wire, or appreciated securities.

To donate by check:
Please make checks payable to:
Agora Productions, Inc.
Memo: Arete Youth Academy (or “Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund” if applicable)

Mail to:
Arete Youth Academy
c/o Agora Productions, Inc.
P.O. Box 452688
Los Angeles, CA 90045

To donate by bank transfer (ACH):
For larger or recurring donations, ACH is a secure and cost-effective option.
Simply select “Bank” as your payment method on our donation page and follow the step-by-step process.

To donate by stock, wire, or securities transfer:
We gladly accept gifts of appreciated assets.
Please contact us directly for transfer instructions:
AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org

Click here to visit our Arete Youth Academy Fundraising Page on Facebook.

Hit “Share” to share it with your friends on Facebook to multiply your donation and help us reach more supporters.

Bill Taylor was the visionary founder of the original Arete West program, which ran from 1979 to 2017. Over the course of 40 years, he personally led students on 20 transformative journeys across the globe, inspiring hundreds of young people to pursue wisdom, leadership, and compassionate service. His encouragement helped spark the creation of the Arete Youth Academy, which carries forward his mission to empower youth through education. This scholarship fund ensures his legacy continues to shape future generations.

To designate your gift:

1. Visit our donation page.

2. Enter your donation amount and choose the “Give in honor or in memory of someone” option.

3. In the “Honoree’s Name” field, type “Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund”

Gifts to the Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund will be used to provide tuition support for one or more participants in each cohort—extending Bill’s spirit of mentorship and service to future generations.

We’ll send a personalized message to your honoree or their family, letting them know how their influence continues to empower youth through Arete.

Contribute in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies. All crypto gifts are tax-deductible in the U.S. To initiate a crypto donation, please contact us at AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org for secure instructions and wallet address details. Our team will guide you through the process and provide a tax acknowledgment letter upon receipt.

Paris and Lyon, France

France will provide a stage for critical inquiry into colonial legacies, secularism, and artistic revolution. In Paris and Lyon, students will engage with Orientalism by Edward Said and Europe and Islam by Hichem Djait, uncovering how power and perception shape global narratives. Sites may include the Panthéon, the Institut du Monde Arabe, and local cultural institutions. Dialogue will be framed through Ikeda’s Before It Is Too Late and exchanges with French scholars and artists. The animated film Persepolis—a Franco-Iranian narrative of identity and dissent—will enrich reflections on postcolonial voice and visual storytelling.

Berlin and Weimar, Germany

Germany offers a profound space to examine 20th-century ethical crisis and cultural resilience. In Berlin, sites like the Topography of Terror and the Berlin Wall Memorial will serve as touchstones for exploring themes in Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship and the film The Lives of Others. In Weimar, participants will investigate the Enlightenment and cultural innovation through Goethe, Arendt, and the Bauhaus. Edward Said’s Orientalism and Ikeda’s Inner Transformation provide frameworks for addressing memory, otherness, and reconciliation. Ode to Joy and Wings of Desire may offer artistic accompaniment to discussions of post-war European rebirth.

Rome and Florence, Italy

Italy brings Renaissance thought and classical ideals into vibrant focus. In Rome and Florence, students will examine Machiavelli’s The Prince, Plato’s Dialogues, and Raphael’s The School of Athens to explore civic ethics, aesthetics, and philosophical lineage. Museum visits and street-level engagement with artists and students provide tangible links to the humanistic ideals echoed in Daisaku Ikeda’s Art of True Relations. Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, studied as an embodiment of unity, may be juxtaposed with Italian artistic movements that shaped European identity and values.

Athens, Greece

In Greece, students will walk in the footsteps of the world’s first philosophers—tracing the origins of inquiry, democracy, and the examined life. Standing in the Agora, where Socrates engaged young Athenians in fearless dialogue about virtue and truth, participants will reflect on how authentic conversation remains the heartbeat of human progress. Visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, and the ruins of Aristotle’s Lyceum will anchor discussions on the birth of reason and the moral responsibilities of free thought. Key readings will include selections from Plato’s Apology and Republic, Pericles’ Funeral Oration, and Constantine Cavafy’s timeless poem Ithaka, urging travelers to cherish the inner journey as much as the destination. Students will also explore Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, reflecting on his vision of “eudaimonia”—a flourishing life achieved through virtue and self-mastery—and its relevance to modern global citizenship.

Sofia & Plovdiv, Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, participants will explore the country’s pivotal role as a cultural bridge between East and West, engaging deeply with its spiritual, philosophical, and historical contributions. A key focus will be the philosophical dialogue “The Lion’s Path” between Daisaku Ikeda and renowned Bulgarian art historian Axinia Djourova, offering insights into the power of cultural memory and humanistic values in post-communist societies. The cohort will meet with Djourova and students at Sofia University, where they will participate in structured cross-cultural exchanges and reflective dialogue on shared ethical concerns. Visits will include the Ivan Duychev Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies, which Djourova led for many years, to examine Bulgaria’s enduring role in preserving Byzantine intellectual and artistic traditions. Participants will also explore museums and cultural sites in Sofia and Plovdiv, gaining a comprehensive view of Bulgaria’s influence from ancient Thracian civilizations to its vibrant contemporary arts scene.

Istanbul, Turkey

As a city bridging East and West, Istanbul provides an immersive backdrop to explore The Art of the Byzantine Empire by David Talbot Rice and The Fall of Constantinople 1453 by Steven Runciman. Students will study Byzantine aesthetics and Ottoman legacies through visits to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, while also engaging with visual and poetic traditions tied to mysticism and power. Ikeda’s Choose Life dialogue may anchor discussions on civilizational cycles. Turkish cultural expressions—from Sufi poetry to contemporary music—invite reflection on identity, continuity, and transformation.

Jerusalem, Israel

In Jerusalem, participants will investigate interfaith ethics through texts like Scars of War, Wounds of Peace by Shlomo Ben-Ami and My Promised Land by Ari Shavit. Sandy Tolan’s The Lemon Tree will serve as a humanizing lens through which to examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students may also explore The Heart of Islam by Nasr and Heschel’s The Sabbath, creating a tri-faith ethical conversation. In-person dialogue with Palestinian and Israeli youth, faith leaders, and scholars—potentially including figures like Dr. Mustafa Barghouti—will animate philosophical themes of reconciliation and historical memory. Artistic engagement may include viewing the photographic work Refugee by Khaled Akil.

Amman and Petra, Jordan

In Jordan, students may journey from Amman’s Roman ruins to the carved facades of Petra, guided by themes in Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence and Islam and the Arab Awakening by Tariq Ramadan. These texts allow for critical inquiry into colonial entanglements and modern Arab identity. Jordan’s cinematic voice may be represented by Theeb, a film set during WWI that portrays Bedouin culture. The site experience may be deepened by exchanges with youth on contemporary challenges like water justice, alongside reflections inspired by the contemplative poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye.

Medina, Saudi Arabia

In Medina, students will explore the origins of Islam and the inclusive spirit of the Prophet Muhammad’s community. Discussions will center on No God but God by Reza Aslan and The Constitution of Medina, offering a philosophical lens on early Islamic pluralism and gender equity. Dialogues may be enhanced through Daisaku Ikeda’s Global Civilization: A Buddhist-Islamic Dialogue, which emphasizes shared ethical foundations. Students will visit sacred sites, meet local scholars, and engage in cross-cultural dialogue with Saudi students. The spiritual tone of the trip is complemented by visual study of Osman Hamdi Bey’s Whirling Dervishes and music by Umm Kulthum.