Welcome to The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI)
BALi’s mission is to inspire youth, including youth from underrepresented groups, such as female-identifying, LGBTQI and gender-expansive individuals, to become effective, dynamic and visionary 21st century leaders as well as active and creative participants in civic, political, corporate and community life. This program provides the skills set and the social-emotional learning needed by the current generation of young women, men and gender-expansive youth, to gain the knowledge and the confidence needed to become leaders in all circles of life.
Explore our Programs
In-school & after-school programs, intensive summer programs, and one day debate training programs throughout the year.
About BALI
The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute has proudly worked with female identified and gender expansive youth throughout NYC and the tri-state area since 2005
⭐︎ NEWS ⭐︎
An exciting documentary on our namesake, Bella Abzug,
aired nationwide on PBS/WNET on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
We are so proud to share that our Founder and daughter of Bella, Liz Abzug, is the Executive Producer of this documentary. Liz started work on it with the filmmaker in 2017 and after 8 years, she is thrilled to be able to finally bring it to the public.
“I wanted her to get elected because we desperately needed her voice”
BARBRA STREISAND
“She was blunt, she was candid, she was poking the beast”
HILLARY CLINTON
“She was there to make sure the doors were open for what came next”
NANCY PELOSI