Multicultural Leadership Academy

About the Multicultural Leadership Academy of Will County

Purpose

The purpose of the Multicultural Leadership Academy is to bring together and train 25 emerging leaders to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities that our diverse suburbs face. Through the academy, they will form a strong network that can call upon each other to continue making Will County a great place for all to live.

Program

The program consists of eight sessions scheduled on Saturdays from February to March. Individuals will network with peers and experts in the field committed to cross-cultural dialogue and social change, develop leadership skills, and engage with the local community by applying new skills and knowledge to a community-based capstone project.

Application & Cost

Applicants must demonstrate a track record of community involvement and describe their goals to address multicultural concerns. They are due January 31st at 11:59PM and should be submitted to ccre@lewisu.edu.

The participation fee for the Academy is $100. Scholarships are available on a limited basis.

Concepts and skills covered in the Academy include:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Intersectionality
  • Basics of Nonprofits
  • Building Effective Partnerships
  • Social Institutions
  • Public Speaking
  • Borrowing from the Business World
  • Measuring Outcomes
  • Basic Finances & Budgets
  • Inclusion & Equity
  • Sustainability & Social Enterprise
  • Asset Based Community Development vs.
    Deficit- Based Development

English

The Multicultural Coalition of Will County invites you to nominate one or more of your staff members to participate in the Multicultural Leadership Academy of Will County, which is a collaboration between Family Bridges, The Center for Community Research at Lewis University, and Spanish Community Center. The purpose of the Multicultural Leadership Academy is to bring together and train emerging leaders to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities that our diverse suburbs face in the nonprofit sector. Through the academy, they will form a strong network that can call upon each other to continue making Will County a great place for all to live.

Benefits to your organization include: 

  • Leadership development through skills such as public speaking, nonprofit basics, collaboration, etc.
  • Engaging with the local community by applying new skills and knowledge to a community-based capstone project. Last year’s capstone projects included topics such as: 
    • Supporting Diversity in the Nonprofit Workplace
    • Documentary: “Undocu-chronicles of Will County”  
    • Anti-racism Mini Grant Program in Will County
  • Networking with peers and experts in the nonprofit field committed to cross-cultural dialogue and social change

To maximize these benefits, this program is designed to meet weekly between March and May on Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm via Zoom. Speakers include professors, nonprofit executive directors, experienced grant writers, retired business executives, among others.

We understand this time commitment may be difficult for some workplaces. However, these emerging leaders will bring back new ideas, energy, and relationships relevant to our multicultural community and context. The Academy has a $500 value which includes lunch, expert guest speakers, skills workshops, and more. Thanks to generous grant support, the cost is $100 per individual and scholarships are available on a limited basis for those unable to meet this commitment. 

Should you have any questions, please email ccre@lewisu.edu. We hope to have your organization represented this semester!

Click here to download the Multicultural Leadership Academy application

Spanish

La Coalición Multicultural del Condado de Will le invita a nominar a uno o más miembros de su personal para participar en el segundo grupo de la Academia de Liderazgo Multicultural del Condado de Will, que es una colaboración entre Family Bridges, Lewis University y el Centro Español. El propósito de la Academia de Liderazgo Multicultural es reunir y capacitar a líderes emergentes para que puedan enfrentar los retos y oportunidades de liderazgo que nuestros diversos suburbios enfrentan en el sector sin fines de lucro. A través de la academia, ellos formarán una fuerte red que puede llamarse unos a otros para continuar haciendo del Condado de Will un gran lugar para que todos vivan.

Los beneficios para su organización incluyen:

  • Desarrollo de liderazgo a través de habilidades como hablar en público, fundamentos de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro, colaboración, etc.
  • Comprometerse con la comunidad local al aplicar nuevas habilidades y conocimientos a un proyecto comunitario. Los proyectos finales del año pasado incluyeron temas como:
    • Apoyo a la diversidad en el lugar de trabajo de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro
    • Documental: “Undocu-chronicles of Will County”
    • Programa de mini subvenciones contra el racismo en el condado de Will
  • Establecimiento de redes con colegas y expertos en el campo de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro comprometidos con el diálogo intercultural y el cambio social

Para maximizar estos beneficios, este programa está diseñado para reunirse semanalmente entre marzo y mayo los sábados por la mañana de 9am a 1pm en Zoom. Entre los oradores se incluyen profesores, directores ejecutivos de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, experimentados otorgantes de subvenciones, ejecutivos de negocios retirados, entre otros.

Entendemos que este compromiso de tiempo puede ser difícil para algunos lugares de trabajo. Sin embargo, estos líderes emergentes traerán de vuelta nuevas ideas, energía y relaciones relevantes para nuestra comunidad y contexto multicultural. La Academia tiene un valor de $500 que incluye un almuerzo, expertos invitados, talleres de habilidades y más. Gracias al generoso apoyo de la subvención, el costo es de $100 por persona y las becas están disponibles de manera limitada para aquellos que no puedan cumplir con este compromiso.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a ccre@lewisu.edu. ¡Esperamos tener su organización representada este semestre!

Haga clic aquí para descargar la solicitud de la Academia de Liderazgo Multicultural
Multicultural Leadership Academy Class of Spring 2021 | Clase de Primavera 2021
Congratulations to the Class of 2021! Your Content Here..
Multicultural Leadership Academy Class of Spring 2020 | Clase de Primavera 2020
Congratulations to the Class of 2020 for a successful second cohort! ¡Felicidades a la Clase del 2020 por un exitoso segundo grupo!

Karissa Fleming
First Presbyterian Church

Karla Gonzalez Castillo
DePaul University 

Cesar Guerrero
Spanish Community Center

Katie Lugo
Holsten Human Capital Development, NFP

Cicly Martin
Joliet Township High School

Alex Paramo Perez 
Financial/Investing

Madelca Perales
Lewis University

Kaleb Sierra
Family Bridges

Gwen Ulmer 
Retired, Silver Cross Hospital, JD86

Jashui Zarate Torres
Student

Multicultural Leadership Academy Class of 2019 | Clase del 2019

Congratulations to the Class of 2019 for a successful first cohort! 
¡Felicidades a la Clase del 2019 por un exitoso primer grupo! 

Sylvia Acosta Chaves
Spanish Community Center

Samantha Ante
Metra Staff Inc. 

Christopher Browne
Family Bridges

Ana Campa
Youth United to Advocate, Spanish Community Center

Victor Xavier Colon
Youth United to Advocate

Claudia Davila
Spanish Community Center

Isabel Gloria
Joliet Township High School

Lorraine Guerrero Neumayer
Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

Erica Holmes 
Forest Park Community Center, National Hookup of Black Women, Eastside Neighborhood Council

Rebecca Hosford
Community Activist

Archana Liggins
Northern Illinois Food Bank 

Maureen Lopez Plasencia
Spanish Community Center 

Liliana Martinez 
Lewis University 

Mariza Rocha
Lewis University

Estefania Rodriguez
Joliet Junior College


“I found the most helpful [aspect was] that we were students from different backgrounds and fields that were able to learn from each other, and that helped me change my perspective in different aspects. I was exposed to great community leaders that are also helping the Hispanic community and they inspired me to keep doing more. Also being involved with different leaders gave me the opportunity to plan projects with them and to really work together to better help our area. I feel like we not only made connections but made meaningful friendships.”

Samantha Ante Class of 2019

“I gained two different things. First is a clearer understanding of the way that society functions, particularly with respect to minority and underprivileged populations. Second, I have more confidence professionally within my organization, as I better understand how it functions and the role it plays.”

Christopher Browne Class of 2019

Partnerships with:

  • Lewis University
  • Family Bridges
  • University of St. Francis
  • Joliet Junior College
  • Joliet Public Library
  • Greater Joliet Area YMCA