Madison’s Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership – in partnership with Justified Anger – will be launching its inaugural African American Leadership & Capacity Development Institute (LCDI) in September. This is a first for Dane County – an African-American faculty investing in emerging African-American leaders, focusing on personal, organizational, and community leadership. This program will be co-sponsored by local African American businesses and business leaders, as well.
The Institute is a 9-month, cohort-based, leadership intensive experience. The key objective is to equip emerging African-American leaders with the skills necessary to effectively lead businesses, organizations, and communities that are equitable and progressive for all, and to create space to address the distinctive opportunities for African-American leadership in Dane County.
The Institute is designed to develop the capacity to carry out the goals and objectives of the Justified Anger “Our Madison Plan” by transforming the face of leadership in our community and equipping African-American leaders with the distinct tools needed to lead change in Madison.
“When I came onto the social entrepreneurship scene 25 years ago, I had only one African-American mentor to encourage and guide me,” said Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, president of the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership and the Director of LCDI. “I feared the professional isolation almost as much as I feared my own failure or that of the organization. I told myself after completing my doctorate in transformational leadership that I would give back, sharing my knowledge, experiences, failures, and joys with emerging African-American leaders in my community and around the nation.”
LCDI is accepting up to 15 participants through an online application process. Applications are accepted through August 31.
The program is open to African-American professionals who work in Madison-area organizations: private, public, and nonprofit. Participants should have a minimum of five years of professional employment, have potential for advancement, and hold a position that includes at least one of the following: decision-making, program/department management, or supervisory responsibilities. Experienced business owners and entrepreneurs are also highly encouraged to apply.
The cohort will meet once a month for 9 months and hear from African American faculty focused on topics which include: history of African-American leadership locally and nationally; systems change; self-care and personal leadership development; and collective impact. In addition, the cohort will have monthly social gatherings with Madison’s established leaders to further the goal of building relational capital between and among participants and guests.
The Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development has served the Greater Madison community for over two decades by building capacity in African-American children, youth and families through its empowerment and development strategies.
If you would like to recommend a participant, become a sponsor, or have other questions, please contact Carrie at 608/257.2453 or [email protected]. More information about Nehemiah’s African American Leadership & Capacity Development Institute, including the participant application, is available here.
