Educational Philosophy & Framework
A Unified Vision for Holistic Growth
At the heart of the Whole Life Leadership Academy lies a unique educational philosophy that seamlessly integrates two transformative frameworks: the Training Institute of the Bahá’í Faith and the Whole Life Wealth Development Model created by Brett Emmons. Together, these frameworks offer a comprehensive approach to leadership development, emphasizing the integration of personal growth, community service, and spiritual empowerment.
This dual focus on individual and collective advancement sets the Academy apart, creating a dynamic space where young people and families can cultivate their potential while contributing meaningfully to their communities. With spirituality and inner development at its core, the Academy ensures participants not only develop leadership skills but also deepen their moral character and sense of purpose.
Whole Life Wealth Development Model
True wealth encompasses more than just financial success—it’s about thriving across all dimensions of life: mental, material, emotional, and spiritual. The Whole Life Wealth Development Model, created by Brett Emmons, founder of the BE LIFE Institute and the Whole Life Leadership Academy, serves as a guiding framework for exploring and integrating these dimensions.
Drawing on Brett’s diverse experiences as a professional dancer, financial advisor, youth mentor, and business coach, this model offers a structured pathway for navigating life’s complexities while aligning personal growth with community well-being.
The Four Dimensions of Wealth
Mental Wealth: Building self-awareness and understanding how we connect with others and society.
Material Wealth: Learning to manage money and resources wisely to support personal and community goals.
Emotional Wealth: Developing emotional intelligence, resilience, and strong relationships.
Spiritual Wealth: Finding growth and purpose in life’s joys and challenges.
The Seven Stages of Growth
Each of these dimensions evolves through seven stages, helping us grow from basic survival to a sense of wholeness and purpose:
Instinct: Reacting to survive and stay safe.
Protection: Creating security and belonging.
Hope and Willpower: Setting goals and staying determined.
Discipline: Building habits and staying aligned with values.
Truthfulness and Trust: Understanding deeper truths and building trust with others.
Justice and Love: Acting with fairness and compassion.
Wholeness: Embracing life’s challenges and joys to create harmony.
This model serves as a roadmap for personal and community growth, empowering participants to understand their current stage, address areas for development, and align their actions with greater purpose.
Spirituality in the Whole Life Leadership Academy
Spirituality lies at the heart of the Whole Life Leadership Academy, particularly during the critical developmental stages addressed by its programs. At this point in life, individuals are not only forming their identities but also grappling with deeper questions of purpose, morality, and connection. The Academy integrates spirituality as a means of fostering universal virtues such as kindness, truthfulness, justice, compassion, and forgiveness. Rather than being tied to religious instruction or persuasion, this approach encourages participants to explore their inner worlds and develop moral resilience and maturity, equipping them to lead with integrity and empathy.
Spirituality in this context acknowledges a higher power as the source of the qualities the Academy seeks to cultivate. Referred to as God—the Creator of all humanity and the universe—this recognition inspires the daily practice of individual and group prayer as a simple yet powerful form of self-reflection and accountability. This habit nurtures inner growth and encourages participants to align their actions with values that transcend personal ambition. The program’s inclusivity embraces the spiritual practices of all cultures and faiths that respect reverence, fostering unity and mutual understanding.
This focus on spirituality is not incidental; it is a deliberate emphasis because of its vital importance during these formative years. By helping participants anchor their growth in a spiritual foundation, the Academy strengthens their ability to navigate challenges, act with clarity, and lead lives of meaningful contribution.
The Training Institute & its Role in the Academy
The Whole Life Leadership Academy draws inspiration from the Training Institute of the Bahá’í Faith, a global framework that supports the spiritual empowerment of individuals and communities. The Training Institute is not a tool for religious instruction but rather a system for cultivating universal capacities like moral leadership, service orientation, and collective progress.
In the Academy, two core activities from the Training Institute play a foundational role: The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program and The Moral and Spiritual Education of Children. These programs guide participants in mentoring younger peers and teaching children, empowering them to instill moral excellence and foster holistic growth. By integrating these frameworks, the Academy emphasizes the interconnectedness of service, leadership, and spirituality.
The Training Institute’s principles align seamlessly with the Whole Life Leadership Academy’s mission. Its materials and activities respect and include participants from all cultural and religious backgrounds, ensuring that every individual feels valued and supported in their personal journey. For more information about the Training Institute, visit www.atlanticrti.org or www.bahai.us.
Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program is part of a global movement inspiring young people, parents, and communities to work together for a better world. This initiative equips adolescents aged 11 to 15 with the tools to navigate life’s challenges, make empowered choices, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Rooted in the belief that achieving one’s highest potential requires both intellectual and spiritual development, the program provides a holistic approach to growth during these formative years.
The program uses a thoughtfully designed curriculum that is applied across diverse cultures and languages worldwide, fostering a shared framework for moral and intellectual development. These materials empower junior youth to cultivate a strong moral identity, develop language skills, and enhance the power of expression. Some address mathematical concepts and social issues, while others prepare youth to explore physical, social, and spiritual realities with a scientific mindset.
While the moral concepts draw inspiration from the Bahá’í teachings, they are not religious in nature and avoid sectarian subjects, making the materials widely applicable for schools, community organizations, and leadership programs. Titles currently used in the curriculum include:
Breezes of Confirmation
Wellspring of Joy
Habits of an Orderly Mind
Glimmerings of Hope
Walking the Straight Path
On Health and Well-Being
Learning About Excellence
Thinking About Numbers
Observation and Insight
The Human Temple
Drawing on the Power of the Word
This shared curriculum and its global implementation allow young people from different backgrounds to engage in a common journey of learning and transformation. The Whole Life Leadership Academy incorporates these materials as part of its central curriculum, finding them invaluable for youth and young adults over the age of 11. By uniting personal growth with community service, the program inspires participants to develop their capacities and play a leading role in shaping a better future for all.
Children’s Class Program: The Moral and Spiritual Education of Children
The Whole Life Leadership Academy embraces the profound belief that young people are the most precious treasure a community can possess, carrying the promise and guarantee of the future. For this promise to be realized, children need both intellectual and spiritual nourishment to thrive. In today’s world, where materialistic pursuits often overshadow the joy and innocence of childhood, the moral and spiritual education of children assumes a vital and urgent importance.
The Children’s Class Program provides children with the opportunity to discover and nurture the spiritual qualities they inherently possess—such as love, truthfulness, and justice—and to build strong character. These classes emphasize learning to think, reflect, and apply these qualities in daily life. With elements such as prayers, art, drama, storytelling, memorization, music, and cooperative games, the classes offer a dynamic and engaging environment for spiritual growth.
The lessons are universal in nature, grounded in the Bahá’í teachings but relevant to children of all religions and backgrounds. By focusing on qualities like kindness, generosity, and truthfulness, spiritual education gives children a strong foundation for the choices they will make as they grow older. It also fosters in them a recognition of the oneness of humanity and an appreciation for the dignity and nobility inherent in every individual.
The Whole Life Leadership Academy integrates the Children’s Class Program into its mentorship framework, training youth to guide and support younger children in their spiritual and moral development. This mentorship fosters strong intergenerational bonds, equipping youth with leadership skills while ensuring children receive the care and guidance they need to grow into compassionate, empowered individuals.
Through these efforts, the program nurtures not only children but also the youth and adults who teach and mentor them, creating a collaborative community committed to building character, promoting unity, and advancing the well-being of society.
Guiding Future Generations
The Whole Life Leadership Academy offers more than a program—it provides a transformative journey that equips young people with the tools, insights, and moral grounding to thrive in a complex world. By integrating the Whole Life Wealth Development Model with the global impact of the Training Institute, the Academy ensures participants develop holistically, balancing personal growth with meaningful service to others.
Through this comprehensive approach, participants not only gain the skills to lead but also cultivate the values that define true leadership: empathy, resilience, and a commitment to the greater good. As they transition into young adulthood and beyond, the Academy provides ongoing support through programs like the BE LIFE Institute, ensuring their growth continues in alignment with life’s evolving challenges and opportunities.
Your Lifelong Journey of Whole Life Wealth Development
The path of growth and leadership at the Whole Life Leadership Academy naturally evolves as participants mature, creating a seamless transition into the programs of the BE LIFE Institute for Business Evolution and Life Prosperity.
The journey begins with the Junior Youth and Youth SWAT Team Program, where participants (ages 12–18) cultivate leadership skills, engage in meaningful community service, and grow as individuals. Through mentorship, service teams, and leadership retreats, they lay the foundation for understanding and living the principles of Whole Life Wealth Development.
As these youth mature, they transition into the Young Adult Board of Directors Program (ages 18–25), where they deepen their personal growth and professional development. This program emphasizes mastering the Ideal Life Roadmap, fostering peer collaboration, and balancing service with self-leadership. Young adults take on roles as mentors to the next generation, teaching children and guiding Junior Youth SWAT Teams, strengthening their leadership and service capacity.
The journey continues at the BE LIFE Institute with the Whole Life Board of Directors for Adults, where young adults evolve into thriving professionals and leaders. This program provides holistic support for balancing increasing life complexities while fostering mental, material, emotional, and spiritual growth. Participants engage with tools, peer networks, and advanced development systems to navigate their careers and personal lives with clarity and purpose.
Founded by Brett Emmons, both the Academy and the Institute are deeply interconnected, designed to guide individuals through every stage of life. Brett’s vision ensures that participants are continually supported in their growth, from youth to young adulthood, and into their professional and adult lives. Together, these programs offer a dynamic, lifelong system for cultivating whole life wealth and creating a ripple effect of impact in families, communities, organizations, and society as a whole.