Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship
Read the latest from the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship
When youth workers see themselves reflected in leadership, they establish a stronger sense of belonging within their organization.
Investing in emerging leaders of color is key to ensuring youth organizations increase and sustain progress toward being welcoming and inclusive workplaces and closing equity gaps in leadership.
The Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project recognizes clear disparities between white nonprofit leaders and nonprofit leaders of color and has identified closing leadership equity gaps as a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging priority. Investment in emerging leaders of color is key to ensuring youth agencies increase and sustain their progress toward welcoming and inclusive workplaces to better serve Indiana’s youth.
The Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship will identify emerging leaders of color and help them build on their existing leadership skills and community networks required to lead and grow effective youth-serving organizations.
Applications for the next Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship cohort will open February 2025.
Eligibility
Indiana youth development professionals of color who are employed with youth-serving organizations that support the educational, social, emotional, and physical development of Indiana youth (ages five to 18) may be eligible. This includes out-of-school time professionals, mental health counselors, child welfare professionals, Youth Services Bureau staff, family support clinicians, and clinical treatment staff.
Additional eligibility:
- Is committed to a career in youth services.
- Currently or aspires to lead a youth-serving organization.
- Includes government or school-based youth workers.
- Has at least 1 year of experience working with a youth-serving organization.
How to Apply
Applications are now closed. Future applications must be submitted through the online form, which will be available on this page during the next round in 2025.
Upon completing the application, you will be directed to a webpage verifying that your application was received. No further action is necessary.
Required Items for Submission:
Before beginning the online application, please ensure each document required for upload is accurate and complete. We strongly recommend preparing responses to the narrative questions in a separate document before beginning the online application.
Applicants will be required to submit the following items during the online application process:
- Basic contact information about the applicant and the organization the applicant works for.
- Responses to narrative questions. Download the Narrative Prep Template
- Contact information for two (2) references who can attest to the applicant being a good candidate for the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship.
- Confirmation that the applicant’s immediate supervisor has been made aware of the opportunity and supports the applicant’s participation in the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship. Download the Statement of Commitment Template
Fellowship Session Topics
Participants engage in a six-month fellowship cohort that focuses on advancing their leadership and management skills. Monthly sessions cover topics like equity-driven leadership, navigating crucial conversations, community building, and sustainability and strategic direction from a diverse team of highly-qualified facilitators and speakers, equipping the cohort to lead and grow thriving youth-serving organizations.
Other topics covered include:
- Coaching and Peer Consultancy
- Communication and Navigating Crucial Conversations
- Community Building
- Counter-Dominant, Authentic Leadership
- Liberatory Design and Systems-Thinking
- Management vs. Leadership
- Mindfulness for Equity-Driven Leadership
- Nonprofit Governance Structure and Decision Making
- Performance Management Frameworks and Supervision
- Power, Privilege, and Oppression
- Resource Development
- Self-Reflection
- Stereotype Threat
- Strength-Based and Self Leadership
- Sustainability and Strategic Direction Setting
Group process and reflection time will be included to discuss the specific challenges participants face as leaders of color. Participants will engage with community and state leaders of all backgrounds to help build their networks and social capital.
In our pursuit of fostering an inclusive environment, we’ve intentionally assembled a team of highly qualified BIPOC and white facilitators and speakers to contribute to the fellowship. This decision is rooted in our belief that diverse perspectives enrich our discussions and learning experiences when assembled with safety and intentionality. By including a diverse range of voices, we aim to create a space where meaningful conversations can flourish, different viewpoints are respected, and everyone can learn and grow together.
