About
The AGORA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation in the state of Connecticut. Our leadership development program is made possible by generous sponsors who fund the tuition, enabling applicants from any socio-economic background to apply.
Our vision is to empower the young minds of our participants with the revelation that leadership is a verb. When our participants embrace this notion, leadership as an ongoing practice of action, adaptability, and engagement, they embody the qualities of effective leadership – vision, empathy, integrity, and resilience – that will drive them to make meaningful impacts in the lives of others and community around them.
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive leadership development program for today’s teenagers in order to ensure tomorrow’s challenges are met with effective leaders ready to solve the complex problems society needs to solve. Join us in our mission and become a sponsor.
Our values: LEADS
Learning daily
Earning everything
Accountable always
Dedicated worker
Serving others
Our Story
As parents and a military family constantly on the move, we experienced firsthand the gaps in traditional education while raising our children in different parts of the world. Despite enrolling our kids in excellent schools, we found that essential life skills (especially leadership) were often overlooked. To bridge this gap, we crafted a homeschool curriculum that complemented the classroom and empowered our children with skills beyond academics. Year after year, we realized that no matter how strong a school’s academics were, leadership skills remained absent. We resolved to fill this void, not just for our family, but for teenagers everywhere. We knew teens were capable of much more if only given the right tools and preparation to lead.
The Revelation
While working at NATO’s Division Headquarters in Hungary, Robert had an epiphany during a candid discussion about leadership preparation with a colleague: Robert: "Why do we assume generals need 30 years of experience to think strategically? Alexander the Great accomplished so much before age 30—what made him different?" Zack: "He wasn’t just born to lead; he was trained to lead, starting as a teenager under Aristotle’s mentorship." This exchange sparked the realization that leadership potential doesn’t wait for age or experience — it needs early cultivation. Today’s world demands leaders who can solve complex problems, uplift communities, and inspire change, and that preparation must begin in the teenage years.
AGORA's Origin
The AGORA draws its inspiration from the ancient Greek "ἀγορά," a term for "assembly" or "gathering place," symbolizing a hub of learning and exchange. Just as Aristotle cultivated the first academy in Athens to empower young minds, AGORA stands as southwestern Connecticut’s modern-day gathering place for nurturing leadership among teenagers. AGORA carries our vision of shaping young minds with transformative ideas. As parents and global travelers with over 20 years of military service and experience across 30 countries, we have a unique understanding of the challenges of preparing teenagers for the future. Rooted in our faith and dedication to God, we designed a program to build the foundational leadership skills teens need to thrive in any path they choose.
Our Goal
AGORA's goal is to inculcate participants minds with the notion that leadership is a verb. In doing so, participants will complete the program empowered to grow into confident, capable leaders who can tackle tomorrow’s challenges. For us, leadership starts at home — with families supporting and serving one another. Strong families build strong communities, which foster thriving businesses, and a society rooted in safety, security, and progress. AGORA isn’t about material success. It’s about shaping teenagers into leaders who will create a better tomorrow — leaders equipped to enhance productivity, uphold core values, and contribute to a brighter future for all.
