MSPC’s Future Leaders Program is built to meet young people where they are—curious, idealistic, and increasingly exposed to arguments for centralized government and socialism—while equipping them with a clear understanding of how free markets create opportunity, innovation, and human flourishing. Through a coordinated set of programs, MSPC provides education, experience, and engagement that work together to shape informed, confident leaders who can think critically about economic policy and the role of government.

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The Sawtooth Leadership Academy serves as the cornerstone of this effort by immersing students and young professionals in an intensive, ideas-driven experience. Participants engage directly with economists, policy leaders, and entrepreneurs to explore the moral and practical foundations of free markets. At a time when socialism is often marketed to young people as compassionate or inevitable, the Academy challenges that narrative by examining real-world outcomes, emphasizing personal responsibility, voluntary exchange, and the link between economic freedom and upward mobility. Students are required to write a policy paper of their choice, to be published by Mountain States Policy Center. The publications are then voted upon to help our Board of Directors determine the winner of a $5,000 scholarship each fall. The Sawtooth Leadership Academy fosters not just knowledge, but confidence—preparing participants to articulate and defend free-market principles in their communities and careers.

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The Great Divide Debate Series builds on that foundation by sharpening critical thinking and communication skills. Debates are held on college campuses throughout the region to expose students to rigorous exchanges on today’s most contested economic and policy questions. The series teaches participants how to analyze claims, weigh evidence, and respectfully challenge prevailing assumptions—especially those that portray socialism as a solution to inequality or economic frustration. Rather than lecturing, the debates encourage intellectual engagement, modeling how free-market ideas can stand up to scrutiny and compete effectively in the marketplace of ideas.

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At the earliest level, We The Students: The Civics Cup Challenge introduces high school students to the principles of American civics and free enterprise through competition and teamwork. The Civics Cup - which launches as part of America's 250th birthday this year, reinforces the connection between constitutional government, economic freedom, and individual rights—concepts often absent from modern classrooms. By making civics engaging and relevant, the program helps students understand not only how our system works, but why it matters, laying an early foundation that counters simplistic or romanticized views of socialism.

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Together, these programs form a pipeline of engagement—from introduction, to exploration, to leadership—designed to counter the growing fascination with socialism by offering something stronger: knowledge rooted in evidence, skills grounded in civil discourse, and a vision of a future shaped by freedom rather than control. MSPC’s Future Leaders Program doesn’t just teach ideas; it cultivates the next generation of thinkers and leaders prepared to defend free markets and participate meaningfully in the civic life of their communities.

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