The 2017 Institute addressed the theme of Mentoring in the Civic Space, focusing on intersections between mentoring and youth empowerment, sociopolitical development, civic engagement, social action, and community development. Research fellows for 2017 include Belle Liang (Boston College), Alma Trinidad (Portland State University), Roderick Watts (City University of New York), Laura Wray-Lake (UCLA), and Shepherd Zeldin (University of Wisconsin-Madison). In addition, the Institute will feature special guest speaker Torie Weiston-Serdan of Youth Action Mentoring Network.