Leading in Community

Assess and strengthen a participant’s capacity to lead multicultural groups, organizations and communities effectively.

1. Virtual Session – Leading in Community Kickoff – Friday, February 9, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
2. Virtual Session 1 – Friday, February 16, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
3. Virtual Session 2 – Friday, March 1, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
4. Virtual Session 2 – Friday, March 15, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
5. Virtual Session 4 (Bridging Individual and Organizational Leadership) – Friday, April 5, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Leaders develop necessary skills, behaviors and attitudes when they have opportunities to learn how to lead effectively with other people and from other people.   The program will support participants as they develop their own approach and learn best leadership practices along with their peers.

We begin with an individual assessment using a widely accepted leadership assessment instrument. After the assessment, the participants and the Center’s leadership coach will collaborate on a personalized plan to guide them as they become the leader they want to be.  Participants will learn how to take charge of their future leadership development by:

• Practicing self-assessment, personal reflection and self-awareness
• Identifying how race, ethnicity and culture influence leadership practices
• Articulating personal vision and mission

Learn and apply nonprofit leadership principles to improve participant’s understanding of practices, governance, human resources, advocacy, financial management and fundraising.

1. Virtual Session 5 – Friday, April 26, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2. Virtual Session 6 – Friday, May 10, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
3. Virtual Session 7 – Friday, May 31, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
4. Virtual Session 8 – Friday, June 14, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The Center respects the challenge of leading in underserved communities and recognizes that well-developed organizational leaders have potential for great impact. Therefore, LIC combines nonprofit best practices with practical applications for leading in multicultural organizations and communities. As part of Phase II, each participant will have opportunity to lead a peer group through a carefully selected case study of an organizational or community challenge they are likely to face.  Afterwards, their peers will review their leadership, highlight strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations for greater effectiveness.

Participants will learn how to:

• Operationalize an organization’s mission and provide overall leadership and strategic direction to the organization while working with the board
• Facilitate planning, define a clear vision for the future, and manage change
• Measure organizational performance, and demonstrate and communicate impact.

During Phase II, Leading in Community includes professional mentoring, a dedicated website, a blog for peer support and networking, and webinars that supplement on site learning.

Understand and practice principles to engage community constituents, organizations and public agencies in a social change initiative for measurable social impact.

1. Virtual Session 9 – Friday, June 28, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2. Virtual Session 10 – Friday, July 12, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
3. Virtual Session 11 – Friday, July 26, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
4. In-Person Session 12 – Friday, September 13, 2024 Capstone Project Presentation from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

The Community Leadership phase of the program builds participants’ skills and increases their capacity for community organizing, building community support networks, and developing partnerships with individuals and organizations in their own neighborhood and community. Certificate candidates will:

• Learn how Long Island, New York City and Hudson Valley communities have been affected by societal factors, such as location, inequality, and demographic patterns
• Apply community organizing principles to nonprofit leadership
• Develop a social justice framework for community development
• Build the knowledge and skills required to function as effective community leaders

A key learning outcome of Leading in Community will be the final exercise where participants will develop a strategic community initiative. The participants will:

• Identify a common social justice issue or concern in an underserved community in the Long Island, New York City, or Hudson Valley regions.
• Articulate a strategy to address the issue or concern that involves a collaboration with individuals or with their respective organizations
• Pinpoint community partnerships that will support the initiative
• Explore potential funding sources for the initiative

Explore the mental and health challenges faced by leaders of color in leading nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and underinvested communities; and develop strategies that will allow them to continue to cope and excel.

1. Virtual Session 13 – Friday, September 20, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2. Virtual Session 14 – Friday, October 4, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
3. Virtual Session 15 – Friday, October 25, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
4. In-Person Closing and Certificate Presentation Friday, November 8, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Leaders of color throughout our region continue to face environmental and socio-cultural challenges. This new phase will provide space for the current LIC cohort to join with LIC Alumni to participate in facilitated discussions guided by LIC faculty (one of whom is expert on socio-emotional health and both of whom are LIC alumni), additional experts in this field, and to engage in peer-to-peer exchanges.