The Leadership Academy

Identifying, engaging, and supporting the newest generation of professional progressive leaders and activists.

The 2007–2008 Leadership Academy fellows

The Leadership Academy supports emerging professionals from diverse backgrounds and education levels who are working for change through the progressive movement. The program provides young professionals with the expert tools, trainings, and support critical to their success as the newest generation of progressive leaders.

The Leadership Academy offers:

Retreats

Convene three times over 10 months for a series of trainings designed to increase your capacity and power. Increase your leadership development, professional skills development, personal ecology and understanding of the movement and its history. Retreats provide the background you need to be a successful movement leader while allowing ample time to bond and connect with other movement leaders. Read about the 2007–2008 Leadership Academy's first retreat.

Mentorship

Many young leaders express frustration with a lack of mentorship and support from experienced leaders as they navigate the early stages of their career. Young People For (YP4) connects fellows with established movement leaders to share wisdom and strategies critical to the success of emerging professionals. Mentors are matched to fellows according to their unique goals, careers and interests to ensure meaningful connections.

One-on-One Coaching

All young leaders have unique leadership development needs that require personal attention and support. As a Leadership Academy participant, you’ll work with career and life coach Cathy Wasserman to develop an individualized curriculum of professional coaching sessions addressing the unique needs and challenges you face as a young professional. You can use your time with Cathy to explore topics ranging from time management and understanding organizational culture to developing and implementing burnout prevention plans.

Group Coaching

New leaders can often feel isolated when dealing with important leadership development subjects. In reality, your concerns are shared by a broader community. Program participants will engage in eight advanced professional development calls with other Leadership Academy fellows, with topics ranging from professional etiquette and managing your boss to understanding how departments collaborate effectively.

Networking

Too often, young progressive leaders lack opportunities to network with one another. They are forced to work in isolation. YP4 connects this generation of leaders to one another through a variety of programs and events. In the Leadership Academy, you’ll engage with a network of progressives ranging from our nation’s most successful college activists to established movement leaders.

Conference Support

If you don’t have access to the resources you need in order to attend conferences and trainings related to your career goals, you may miss out on important networking opportunities. To meet this need, YP4 funds program participants to attend conferences and trainings relevant to their long-term career goals and unique professional development needs.

Still looking for a job? Apply for a paid fellowship through YP4

YP4 will provide five young leaders paid fellowships to work at small and medium-sized progressive organizations across the country. Applicants selected for paid fellowships will receive $30,000 paid over the course of 10 months (August 2008 through June 2009). To be considered for one of the five paid fellowship opportunities, fill out the appropriate additional section of the Leadership Academy application.

Leadership Academy fellow Josh Bolotsky talks about his experience:

Hear from more fellows on our YouTube channel.