The Elijah Cummings Youth Program in Israel (ECYP) is a two-year leadership development program designed to build bridges between Baltimore’s diverse communities.

The Elijah Cummings Youth Program in Israel (ECYP) is a two-year leadership development program designed to build bridges between Baltimore’s diverse communities. By fostering positive relationships between ethnic groups, ECYP provides high school students with the tools and real-world opportunities they need to become future leaders. This is achieved through a four-week trip to Israel and participation in the Jerold C. Hoffberger Leadership Enhancement Program (JHLEP), a two-year commitment where students assume new responsibilities, affirm leadership potential and learn the importance of cooperation, diversity and civic participation. Annually, a new leadership class, consisting of 12 tenth-grade students, is inducted into the Elijah Cummings Youth Program in Israel. The program’s curriculum consists of three major components: leadership development, the Israel experience and community service.