The desire to learn constantly is a primary characteristic of a good leader. And one of the roles of community organizations is providing new and seasoned leaders with opportunities to do just that. The organizations in this listing can help you with everything from training your staff to developing the leadership potential of youth in your neighborhood.
Key: Leadership development training (LD) tends to concentrate on new leaders, or on organizations and community programs that have had no formalized leadership training, such as youth organizations. Leadership enhancement programs (LE) emphasize the further training of individuals already serving in leadership capacities.
Advocacy Institute
1629 K Street, NW, Suite 200; Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-777-7575; Fax: 202-777-7577
Program Director: Sharvell Becton
Type of Training: LE Scope: National
The Advocacy Institute Fellows Program is designed to strengthen the ability of leaders to effectively tackle tough social problems. They convene nonprofit leaders for exchange, reflection, and rejuvenation. Fellows cultivate relationships with past and current Fellows, consult with the staff, gain skills, and reflect and rebuild in an environment of respect and support.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
701 St. Paul St.; Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-547-6600; Fax: 410-547-6624
www.aecf.org/fellowship/
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The Casey Foundation’s Children and Family Fellowship is an 11-month leadership development program for mid-career professionals. The Fellowship strives to increase the pool of leaders with the vision and ability to frame and sustain major system reforms and community capacity-building initiatives that benefit large numbers of children and families.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
1230 Peachtree Street, NW; Atlanta, GA 30309-3494
Phone: 404-815-5700; Fax: 404-815-5727
www.bgca.org
President: Roxanne Spillett
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a national network of 2,600 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving 3.3 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, and career preparation.
James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership
1107 Taliaferro Hall
University of Maryland; College Park, MD 20742-7715
Phone: 301-405-6100
www.academy.umd.edu/training
Director of Training and Consultation: Dr. Laura Dorsey-Elson
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: Regional/National
The Academy of Leadership provides custom-designed leadership training, coaching, and consultation for national and regional clients. Participants develop their leadership capacity, explore methods of creating effective team learning, identify ethical practices in leadership, adopt tools for transforming conflict in groups, and understand the challenges of unconscious behaviors in groups.
Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC)
30 Winter Street, Suite 700; Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-423-1444; Fax 617-423-4748
Senior Associate: Janice A. Litwin
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: National
CTAC develops leadership, planning and managerial expertise within community-based organizations, collaborative partnerships, school systems, state and local governments, and health and human service agencies nationwide. They provide individualized, on-site, long-term training, assistance and advice that is tailored to the unique needs of each group.
The Community Leadership Association
200 South Meridian Street, Suite 340; Indianapolis, IN 46225
Phone: 317-637-7408
Manager of Training and Programming: Linda Martin
Type of Training: LE Scope: National
The Community Leadership Association, formerly The National Association for Community Leadership, is a membership organization of hundreds of diverse community leadership organizations, graduates of these organizations, and others interested in community leadership development. CLA nurtures leadership in communities throughout the United States and internationally, encourages sharing and mutual learning by its members, and embraces the diversity of community leadership development efforts.
Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO)
1218 E. 21st Street; Oakland, CA 94606
Phone: 510-533-7583
www.ctwo.org
Associate Director: Julie Quiroz-Martinez
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
CTWO is a movement activity center for racial justice providing communities of color with analytical frames, organizing skills, and visions of a just society. Their three-day community action trainings give new and potential organizers a look into various components of organizing. The Minority Activist Apprenticeship Program is an eight-week organizer training program with a six week-field placement component.
Development Leadership Network (DLN)
685 Centre Street; Boston, MA 02130
Phone: 617-971-9443
www.developmentleadership.net
Executive Director: Susan Naimark
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: Regional/National
DLN supports leadership development by engaging individuals working in community-based economic development in regional forums and annual or biennial national retreats. These are structured to provide opportunities for addressing issues that lead to more effective, values-based practice. DLN also offers training in participatory planning and evaluation through the Success Measures Project.
The Development Training Institute, Inc. (DTI)
2510 St. Paul Street; Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: 410-338-2512; Fax: 410-338-2751
www.dtinational.org
President: Joseph McNeely
Vice President: Carol Gallant
Type of Training: LE Scope: National
DTI provides training and technical assistance to promote leadership development and organizational capacity for community building in the United States. DTI’s constituencies are the leaders of organizations engaged in community building initiatives including community-based development organizations, private lenders, public agencies, and philanthropic institutions.
Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART)
314 N.E. 26th Terrace
P.O. Box 37091; Miami, FL 33137-0791
Phone: 305-576-8020; Fax: 305-576-0789
[email protected]
DART Training Coordinator: Jana R. Adams
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: National
The Direct Action and Research Training Center annually conducts three national workshops to introduce and develop basic skills related to congregation-based community organizing. Five day Orientation Workshops are held in March and October. A three-day Advanced Workshop is held in June. Local training sessions are also offered in the 18 cities within the DART Network.
Eureka Communities
1601 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 802; Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-332-2070
www.eureka-communities.org
President: Steve Vetter
Type of Training: LE Scope: National
A two-year on-the-job leadership development and training program, called a fellowship, for the executives of community-based organizations, Eureka builds citywide networks of community-based, nonprofit leaders who are positioned to improve life conditions for children, youth, women and families.
The Gamaliel Foundation
203 North Wabash, Suite 808; Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-357-2639; Fax: 312-357-6735
www.Gamaliel.org
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The Gamaliel Foundation works with community leaders to build grassroots, institutionally-based organizations. It conducts a seven-day residential intense leadership training event four times each year that covers the basic concepts of organizing. These events are held in March, twice in July, and in November. The Foundation also conducts a three-day Women’s Leadership Training event.
Highlander Research and Education Center
1959 Highlander Way; New Market, TN 37820
Phone: 865-933-3443
www.hrec.org
Education Team Coordinator: Susan Williams
Type of Training: LD Scope: Regional (see below)
Highlander works with grassroots groups in the southern United States and Appalachia who are working on economic and/or democratic participation issues. They do capacity building and leadership programs with youth organizations, people of Latin America within their regions, African Americans and poor working-class Whites who are organizing for change.
Institute for Alternative Futures
100 North Pitt Street, Suite 235; Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-684-5880; Fax: 703-684-0640
www.altfutures.com
President: Clement Bezold, Ph.D
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The Institute for Alternative Futures offers a leadership development program that helps individuals and organizations develop their own images of the future and design more effective strategies to shape the future they prefer. This training is designed to build a greater capacity to deal creatively with future problems and to grasp opportunities.
Institute for Educational Leadership/
Education Policy Fellowship Program
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-822-8405 x38
www.iel.org/programs/epfp.html
Director: Hunter N. Moorman
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The Education Policy Fellowship Program is a 10-month, in-service leadership development program for mid-career professionals in education and related services. Approximately 200 Fellows each year, with tuition and travel support from their employers, participate in seminars and other learning experiences at the 13 state sites and attend two national meetings, the Leadership Forum and the Washington Policy Seminar.
LeaderShape, Inc.
1801 Fox Drive, Suite 101; Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-351-6200; Fax: 217-355-0910
www.leadershape.org
Director: A. Paul Pyrz, Jr.
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: Regional/National
LeaderShape offers leadership programs focused on people ages 17-25. Its vision is to improve society by inspiring, developing, and supporting more people committed to “leading with integrity.” It challenges trainees to make a commitment to a vision, develop relationships to bring the vision into reality, and sustain a high level of integrity.
Metro Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF)
165 West 86th Street; New York, NY 10024
Phone: 212-875-9345;
Senior Organizer: Mike Gecan
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
Introductory sessions for new leaders and targeted training series tailored to the needs of member congregations or associations. Intensive training and mentoring are also provided to developing and experienced leaders, as key leaders attend one of the four 10-day national IAF trainings each year.
Midwest Academy
28 East Jackson, Suite 605; Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-427-2304; Fax: 312-427-2307
www.midwestacademy.com
Training Administrator: Shelby Pera
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: National
Midwest Academy’s training and consulting services are designed for progressive organizations and coalitions that build citizen power at the local, state or national levels. The Academy offers a five-day “Organizing for Social Change” session in affordable residential settings around the country. Shorter sessions are designed for specific organizations and available by contract, as is ongoing consulting and strategic planning.
National Center for Community Education (NCCE)
1017 Avon Street; Flint, MI 48503
Phone: 810-238-0463
www.nccenet.org
Executive Director: Dan Cady
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: National
NCCE’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art leadership development, training and technical assistance focusing on community and educational change, emphasizing community schools.
The National Community for Latino Leadership, Inc. (NCLL)
1701 K. Street, NW, Suite 301; Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-721-8290
[email protected].
Contact: Alfred Ramirez
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
NCLL is a coalition of local and national leadership development programs promoting the social, cultural, and economic advancement of the United States and its Latino communities through research about Latino leadership nationwide, and by developing and networking leaders committed to ethical, responsible, and accountable actions for the U.S. Latino population and the broader community.
National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED)
1030 15th St., NW, Suite 325; Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 1-877-44NCCED; Fax: 202-289-7051
www.ncced.org/programs/cdip
Program Manager: Susan Shorters
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) brings together recent graduates and undergraduate and graduate students from two- and four-year U.S. colleges, universities, and trade schools to learn about community economic development (CED). The training is designed to increase participants’ knowledge of the CED field and enhance their collaboration, leadership, facilitation and problem-solving skills. Participants are selected by application.
The National Organizers Alliance (NOA)
715 G Street, SE; Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-543-6603; Fax: 202-543-2462
www.noacentral.org
Executive Director: Kim Fellner
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: National
NOA has a diverse membership of progressive community, labor, and issues organizers, which includes trainers and artists with an organizing focus. They help organizers identify training options and provide opportunities for members to build leadership skills. The NOA Social Justice Dialogues curriculum helps organizers reflect on situations where wedge issues collide in organizations and constituencies.
National Training and Information Center (NTIC)
810 North Milwaukee Avenue; Chicago, IL 60622-4103
Phone: 312-243-3035; Fax: 312-243-7044
www.ntic-us.org; www.npa-us.org
Staff Director: Joe Mariano
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
NTIC is a resource center providing training and technical assistance in direct-action community organizing and research on issues such as redlining, housing, crime and drugs, and related issues. NTIC’s organizing identifies, tests and develops non-traditional, indigenous leadership. Four-day trainings are held twice a year at their Chicago offices.
National Youth Employment Coalition/
New Leaders Academy
1836 Jefferson Place, NW; Washington DC 20036
Phone: 202-659-1064; Fax: 202-659-0399
www.nyec.org
Director: Adrienne Smith
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The goal of the New Leaders Academy (NLA) is to better prepare the emerging leaders of the country’s youth programs. NLA builds capacity within the youth employment profession through training in youth development, workforce development, program and policy development and management skills, and also helps future leaders develop and maintain networking skills and abilities.
Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO)
171 Santa Rosa Ave; Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: 510-655-2801
www.piconetwork.org
Executive Director: John Baumann, S.J.
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: National
PICO’s training program is designed to provide leaders with the skills in building a congregation-community model of community organizing. Leaders increase their knowledge and skills in organizational development and process, meaning and importance of values, analysis of power, self-interest and organizing, issue development, public skills, research techniques, action/strategy, and building relationships.
Partners for Livable Communities
1429 21st Street, NW; Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-887-5990
www.livable.com
President: Robert McNulty
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
Partners for Livable Communities is an international network of more than 1,000 organizations committed to improving community well-being through economic development, social equity and quality of life. Through publications, networking, leadership training and technical assistance, Partners works to create realistic strategies and creative programs for its constituents.
Pew Partnership for Civic Change
5 Boars Head Lane, Suite 100; Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: 804-971-2073; Fax: 804-971-7042
www.pew-partnership.org
Deputy Director: Carole Hamner
Type of Training: LD Scope: National
The Pew Partnership has tested strategies in 10 cities to broaden and deepen community leadership. They are refining a curriculum for increasing diverse citizen participation in community affairs. The curriculum will be available at low cost to community organizations in 2001. Contact them for more information.
Rural Development Leadership Network (RDLN)
P.O. Box 98, Prince St. Station; New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-777-9137; Fax: 212-477-0367
www.ruraldevelopment.org
President: Starry Krueger
Type of Training: LD Scope: Regional/National
During a three-year enrollment in RDLN, emerging leaders spearhead a community-based project in their own community, undertake related independent study with the option of earning a B.A., M.A. or Ph.D., participate in RDLN’s four-week Rural Development Institute at the University of California, and network with peers from other regions through assemblies and special projects.
Slippery Rock University/
The Institute for Community, Service-Learning, and Nonprofit Leadership
214 Spotts World Cultures Building; Slippery Rock PA 16057
Phone: 724-738-CARE; Fax: 724-738-2314
Director: Alice E. Kaiser-Drobney
Type of Training: LD/LE Scope: Regional/National
The Institute provides opportunities for youth to connect intellectual and interpersonal skills with personal passions for purposeful action. The goal is to educate both youth and their communities to involve young people as valuable community change agents. Training is provided at the regional and national level as requested and availability allows.
About the Author
Comments