What is HOBY?

For over four decades, HOBY Maryland has inspired young people to become catalysts for positive change.
We seek to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers for a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.

HOBY Maryland and Maryland Leadership Seminar, Inc. were formed in 1979 after actor and humanitarian Hugh O’Brian contacted the Maryland Jaycees, a service organization that continues to offer invaluable support, and asked to open a Maryland chapter of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation. O’Brian was inspired to start the organization dedicated to developing a global community of youth and volunteers after a life-changing trip to visit the Nobel Prize-winning polymath Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

From our humble beginnings with 46 high schools represented, our annual leadership seminar now includes sophomores from over 250 public and private schools across the state of Maryland. Likewise, our all-volunteer planning committee and staff reflects the growing involvement of our HOBY alumni — more and more former Ambassadors are returning to volunteer their time as committee members, staff, speakers, and facilitators.

Our students are Ambassadors for their schools, and referred to as such. After attending the Leadership Seminar or a Community Leadership Workshop (CLeW), Ambassadors return home with a greater sense of purpose.

They create a ripple effect, focusing their enthusiasm and new set of resources to help make their schools and communities a better place for all.

Our Core Values

Leadership Opportunities

While our annual Leadership Seminar is our flagship event, HOBY offers additional leadership opportunities. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to network with other students, learn how to participate in conversations that challenge their perspectives, and gain knowledge that they can take back to their schools and communities to use as leaders and agents of change.

Community Leadership Workshops

Community Leadership Workshops (CLeWs) are one-day leadership workshops for high school freshmen. They are developed and implemented by HOBY alumni along with volunteers from local businesses and civic groups. Thanks to committed donors and volunteers, students can attend a CLeW at no cost. CLeW planning committees invite high schools directly to nominate freshmen to attend.

CLeW participants have the opportunity to:

• Explore leadership as it pertains to volunteerism, government, education, and industry from the perspective of local community leaders;
• Learn to form diverse relationships with adult professionals, volunteer mentors, and students with diverse leadership styles and backgrounds;
• Participate in activities to explore and exercise leadership on personal and group levels; and
• Conduct a community service project, putting leadership into action and implementing social change.

For more information, contact our CLeW Advisor.

World Leadership Congress

Upon completing the Leadership Seminar, Ambassadors have the opportunity to attend HOBY’s next level of leadership programs known as the World Leadership Congress (WLC). The WLC is HOBY’s oldest program and the only one open to international students aged 15-17.

The week-long intensive educational program most recently took place in Chicago, IL. The WLC brings together youth with demonstrated leadership potential to interact with accomplished professionals and influential leaders. Each year, approximately 450 students representing 20 countries attend this unique international program comprised of speakers, panels, interactive workshops, field trips, and more.

HOBY’s student Ambassadors emerge from the WLC more mature individuals, cognizant of the world around them, and ready to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

HOBY Maryland Corporate Board

The HOBY Maryland Corporate Board governs the Maryland affiliate of Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, including its programs and events. The responsibilities and duties of the Board include setting the direction of the organization, ensuring that the organization has the financial resources it needs, building up the assets of the organization, building connections and networking on behalf of the organization, representing the organization to the public, and providing oversight for the programs and activities of the organization.

The Board meets approximately six times a year, bimonthly, and are open to anyone who would like to attend. To get the Zoom link or submit a question you’d like addressed during the next meeting, please email our Corporate Board President at president@hobymd.org.

2024–2025 Board Members