In 2021, Wellington convened a working group called “The Dream Team” to lead the congregation in exploring ways to live after the sale of our building. Part of their work involved generating some “big ideas” about how to best use the congregation’s human and financial resources to do God’s work in the world.
One of those ideas was birthed in 2022, as the Wellington Institute for Leadership Development, also known as WILD!
A collaboration with the Chicago Peacebuilding Team of American Friends Service Committee, WILD offered area youth a month-long paid summer internship program where they learned how to organize for social justice. Read more about the program here and check them out on IG!
The inaugural WILD interns were honored with a graduation ceremony at the end of the program. Friends, family, and church members gathered to celebrate everyone who helped make the program happen, and to especially lift up the fabulous WILD interns. Click here to watch the graduation festivities!