Bermuda’s school pupils have been invited to take part in leadership academies to be held at an Ivy League university in the US this summer.

Hollywood actor Danny Glover, who co-starred in the Lethal Weapon movies, is among the celebrity speakers lined up for the conferences, to be held at Princeton University in New Jersey for black and ethnic minority youngsters.

Bermuda resident Tony Reid was inspired to promote the programmes, one for boys and one for girls, after his daughter, Gabrielle, took part last year.

The events were designed to help high school pupils become leaders.

Mr Reid was introduced to the programme by Delroy Lindo, a London-born American actor who appeared in a series of films by famous director Spike Lee and is also chairman of the From the Fire: Leadership Academy for Young Men and the At The Well: Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

The two met at a 2018 information session for the programmes held in New Jersey.

Mr Reid told The Royal Gazette: “Delroy Lindo inspired me to champion local awareness of At The Well programmes for participation by Bermuda’s youth to build their leadership skills, character and confidence prior to attending university.”

The programmes’ websites said they were based on the “spiritual and intellectual traditions forged in response to the injustices faced by African-Americans and other minority groups around the world”.

Mr Reid worked with CedarBridge Academy last December to help encourage pupils to apply.

The From the Fire: Leadership Academy for Young Men is a two-week boarding programme.

Mr Glover, a civil rights and political activist as well as an actor, will be the keynote speaker at the event, which will run from July 22 to August 3.

Mr Lindo will also speak along with Toby Sanders, a pastor involved in education who cofounded the programmes and drew up its curriculum.

Mr Lindo said “I want this programme to stand as a profoundly encouraging dynamic for our young people.”

The At The Well: Young Leadership Academy for girls and young women will run from July 21 to August 2.

Guests for the girls’ programme have not been announced but previous speakers have included actor Nicole Ari Parker, plus-size model Liris Crosse, and Julianne Malveaux, an academic, writer and businesswoman.

There are also two weekend programmes scheduled for August. The application deadline for all programmes is March 31.

• For more information and applications forms, visit: atthewellconferences.org. Financial assistance is available if required