
Acara is a leadership incubator program open to students from any discipline who want to be part of solving real-world challenges, like equitable access to clean water, health care, energy, and healthy food. We support students with a passion, project, or idea as they take it to the next level – whether that be developing an app or student group, starting an advocacy campaign, or developing a social enterprise.
This happens through programming that includes:
- Courses for undergraduate and graduate students
- Non-credit programs, such as the Graduate Changemakers Lab
- Funding to pilot change making ideas
- Free coaching from incredible faculty and community leaders
We are also more than a program – Acara is a community. Our network of partners provide ongoing support and coaching to students, helping them better understand the challenges communities face and how to develop viable solutions.
By being a part of Acara, you will learn:
How to develop and work on multidisciplinary teams.
Human-centered design and an entrepreneurial mindset.
The top skills that employers are seeking, including analytical, problem-solving, communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.
Acara News
By Hannah Fleming, 2021 Acara Fellow We are HEAL-Ed, a group of University of Minnesota students and alumni with a…
The 2021 Acara Challenge ended with a virtual award ceremony that nearly 200 people were able to attend from around…
Acara is a program of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment focused on leadership incubation for students interested…