Moral Courage

Change the Game: Become a Moral Courage Mentor

A First-of-Its-Kind Training at WMU — Friday, September 11 | 10am–3pm | Waldo Library, Room 3016

WMU is excited to announce the "Game Changer" peer mentorship program as part of Moral Courage at WMU, this Fall 2026!

The world can feel like it's stuck in an Us-against-Them loop — like you're either "with" someone or "against" them, with no room in between. It's exhausting, and it's not how real relationships or real leadership work.

This fall, Western Michigan University is partnering with Irshad Manji and Moral Courage College to bring a research-backed skill set to campus — one that helps you build trust, navigate disagreement, and lead with confidence in any relationship, on or off the field.

WMU is one of the first universities in the country — and the first NCAA Division I school — to pilot this program at this scale, working alongside Kalamazoo Promise Scholars, student-athletes through Broncos Empowered, and Merze Tate College students. If it works here, it could become a model for campuses nationwide.

What You'll Learn

In one interactive, hands-on day, you'll learn the five core skills of Moral Courage — a practical method for:

Speaking your truth without making enemies
Hearing others without losing yourself
Standing your ground while still building common ground
Managing your reactive brain under pressure, instead of letting it manage you
Turning conflict into trust — the kind of relational skill AI can't replicate

You'll practice these skills through live role-play, real scenarios, and stories — not lectures. And you won't be doing it alone: WMU President Kavalhuna will join the group after lunch to welcome you back and take part in the training himself.

What the Day Looks Like

10:00am–12:00pm — Training, Phase 1
12:00–1:00pm — Lunch (pizza's on us)
1:00–3:00pm — Training, Phase 2, with a welcome from President Kavalhuna

Why It's Worth Your Time

This isn't a one-and-done workshop. Students who complete the September 11 training have the opportunity to go on to a certification phase, where you'll apply these skills through a capstone project and become a certified Moral Courage Mentor for your peers — supporting incoming students, building your leadership experience, and adding something concrete to your resume that sets you apart.

Along the way, you'll gain:

A skill set employers are actively looking for — the human, relational skills AI can't do
Real leadership and mentorship experience
A certificate and a digital credential for your LinkedIn profile
A community of peers doing this work alongside you

Who Should Come

This training is especially designed for Kalamazoo Promise Scholars and WMU student-athletes, but it's open to any WMU student ready to invest a day in becoming a better communicator and leader. Space is limited, so register early.