Leading in Community

Strengthening nonprofit leadership.

Program Description 

Leading in Community (LIC) is a leadership development program with a goal to broaden and strengthen the leadership pipeline for people of color and prepare them for nonprofit and community leadership on Long Island.

Participants receive a Certificate in Organizational and Community Leadership from Adelphi University upon completion of the eight month program.

Common Challenges

Leading In Community Graduation 2015

The Center recognizes that the leaders of color serving in Long Island’s underserved communities face obstacles that are common among leaders in low to moderate income communities throughout the United States. In the 2008, the Leadership Learning Community—a national nonprofit organization that focuses on leadership development—identified the following challenges for leaders of color:

• Disparity in access to education and training programs
• Exclusive networks that recruit and perpetuate white leadership
• Internalized oppression and lack of self-confidence
• Exclusive dominant culture model of leadership
• Economic Status: Those who may have access, credentials and confidence are often expected to support other family members, are repaying loans or otherwise do not have support that would allow them to afford unpaid internships, low paid, unstable jobs characteristic of the non-profit sector.

Leaders of color serving in Long Island’s underserved communities face obstacles that are unique to the Long Island region. Long Island ranks 10th in the nation in residential segregation between blacks and whites, putting Long Island ahead of Los Angeles, Baltimore and Washington D.C.  Furthermore, Long Island ranks 19th in segregation between Hispanics and whites.

Program Goals and Objectives

BoardSource reports that in 2010, only 12 percent of nonprofit executives are people of color, and only 14 percent of the members of nonprofit boards of directors were people of color.  Therefore, a goal of LIC is to broaden and strengthen the leadership pipeline for people of color and prepare them for senior leadership positions in Long Island’s nonprofit sector. LIC has the following short-term objectives: (1) increase participants’ leadership capital; (2) build capacity for their organizations and communities; and (3) develop a collegial network of emerging Long Island nonprofit and community leaders of color.

Program Participants

Each year the Center will identify nonprofit professionals and community leaders of color working in Long Island’s underserved communities. Candidates will be invited to apply on the basis of the following criteria:

• Mid-level managers or directors of a nonprofit organization based in an underserved community on Long Island
• Voluntary or paid community leaders
• Supported by their organization’s leadership or other community leaders

Application Process

» Apply Now

Tuition Cost

$2000

Partial scholarships are available. Considerations in determining scholarships will be based on financial need. See application for more details.

Learning Objectives

Through the activities of LIC, the participants will develop a range of skills and practices for effective leadership in nonprofit organizations and in communities of color.

Phase 1: Individual Leadership: Assess and strengthen a participant’s capacity to lead multicultural groups, organizations and communities effectively

Phase 2: Nonprofit Leadership: Learn and apply nonprofit leadership principles to improve participant’s understanding of practices, governance, human resources, advocacy, financial management and fundraising.

Phase 3: Community Leadership: Understand and practice principles to engage community constituents, organizations and public agencies in a social change initiative for measurable social impact