ELA

Emerging Leader Academy

Applications for the 2024 Emerging Leader Academy have closed and will re-open in late 2024/early 2025. To stay updated, please subscribe to our newsletter.

“We have to change ourselves to change the world” -Grace Lee Boggs

Since 2012, the ONEplace Nonprofit Leader Academy has offered emerging community leaders an in depth exploration of leadership within a nonprofit organization.

The goal of the Academy is to develop executive leadership within the nonprofit context. This includes those envisioning an executive director position in their future as well as those considering other leadership positions.

In 2021, we worked with Mia Henry from Freedom Lifted to reimagine this program, explicitly taking the foundation we had and incorporating anti-racism and equity into the framework.

ONEplace Leader Academy Vision

• ONEplace is a trusted source that envisions leaders who are able to show up fully in the organizations where they work. Committed to ongoing learning and practice, they facilitate space for imagination and create containers for collective thinking.
• ONEplace leaders are reflective, courageous, empowered, and anti-racist. They are critical lovers of institutions in need of transformation. These leaders are able to organize people and resources to make needed change happen regardless of the positions they hold.
• We believe these leaders will anchor and support organizations that are rooted in anti-racist, human-centered values.
• This leadership in organizations will animate a thriving nonprofit sector in Kalamazoo.

Ideal Academy candidates are currently employed by a Kalamazoo County nonprofit organization, and…

• Seeks to be a leader or is a leader in Kalamazoo nonprofits
• Desire and capacity to be a part of an intensive year-long leadership development program
• Is familiar with and participates in ONEplace programming and engages in equity work
• Envisions a more equitable, more anti-racist Kalamazoo
• The candidate has the support of his/her direct supervisor and executive director
• Have 3 years of experiencing working in the Kalamazoo community in nonprofit work (this one is a preference not a requirement)

In determining if you’d like to participate, ask yourself this question: Am I able to be explicit about systemic racism? If that concept is new to you, we encourage you to enroll in one of many ONEplace workshops on this topic prior to applying for Leader Academy.

The academy focuses on a range of personal and functional competencies needed to succeed when an individual engages in the nonprofit sector. Major topic areas will include equity; personal leadership development; and collective impact.  NEW this year, we will offer access to ‘electives’ that will cover topics such as governance; fundraising; strategic direction & operation; cultural competencies and more!

Each participant will have the option to work with a mentor for the duration of the Academy. The mentor (usually a current executive director) and participant meet to further discuss topics raised in class and other related issues. These relationships allow participants to assimilate material into their own experience and learn the interrelationships of issues from someone in the field.

Our sessions will be held in a retreat-like setting, and it is expected and highly encouraged that participants will be present for the entirety of every session. We understand this may need to change in response to COVID. 

The application can be found here (contact us if you need accommodations in completing the application) 

Application Information 

• December – Applications open
• January 9 – Academy Information Session (zoom)
• January 18 – Applications due by 5 pm 
• January 25 – Notification of acceptance (maximum of 20) 
• February 1 – Participant Commitments due by 5 pm 
• February 20 – Orientation (zoom) 

Questions may be directed to ONEplace staff – [email protected] or 269-553-7899. 

Leadership Academy Schedule  

Academy sessions are full-day events (9:30 am – 4:00 pm). Breakfast and lunch are provided during in-person sessions as well as beverage and snacks. Participants are expected to “be present” throughout the day. 

• 2/27 – 2/29  
• 3/27 – 3/28 
• 4/25  
• 5/23  
• 9/26  

An information session will be held virtually January 9th to gain additional information about the experience and is required to apply for the cohort. This session will be recorded and can be requested if you are unable to attend. 

Please contact ONEplace with questions: [email protected] or 269.553.7899 

Applications are due January 18th by 5 pm and can be found here.