ELA
Emerging Leader Academy
ONEplace Emerging Nonprofit Leader Academy 2026
ONEplace is a relied upon community resource that envisions leaders who can 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.
These leaders are reflective, courageous, empowered, and anti-racist. They are critical lovers of institutions in need of transformation. These leaders organize people and resources to make needed change happen regardless of their positions.
We believe these leaders anchor and support organizations and a community that are committed to anti-racist, human-centered values.
This type of leadership will animate a thriving nonprofit sector in Kalamazoo.
The ONEplace Emerging Leader Academy (ELA) historically endeavors to prepare leaders for executive leadership positions. While this remains a target, the academy focuses on a range of personal and functional competencies needed to thrive in the nonprofit sector. Major topic areas include equity, personal leadership development, and collective impact. This year, we will offer access to ‘electives’ that will cover topics such as governance; fundraising; strategic direction & operation; cultural competencies, and more!
The Emerging Leader Academy has been refreshed based on feedback and will be held over a six (6) month period through curated sessions, office hours and priority enrollment in 3 specific public workshops. Our sessions will be held in a retreat-like setting with food and beverages provided, 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 and are aware of the impact that participant availability has on the full group’s experience.
Information sessions will be held virtually December 9, 2025 & January 7, 2026, to gain additional information about the experience and attendance is required to apply for the cohort. This session will be recorded and can be requested if you are unable to attend.
A virtual orientation session will be held February 5, 2026, where you will meet other Academy participants and finalize participation details. Each participant will also have an opportunity to establish a mentoring relationship with nonprofit leaders from our community. Additional ONEplace workshops (electives) and resources will be recommended to supplement the content.
Important Dates:
November 24, 2025 – Applications Launch
December 9, 2025 – Virtual Info Session 1
January 7, 2026 – Virtual Info Session 2
January 8, 2026 – Applications Due
January 15, 2026– Notify ELA Applicants via email
January 22, 2026 – ELA Accepted Participants Commitment Forms Due
February 5th – VIRTUAL ELA Orientation
ELA Required Curated In-Person Sessions 2026 (9:30 am – 3:30 pm)
February 18th & 19th – ELA Sessions
March 10th – Truth & Titus Collective
March 19th – ELA Session
April 23rd – ELA Session
April 28th – Weirder Wonderland
May 21st – ELA Session
June 2nd – Holistic Leadership Consulting
June 18th – ELA Closing Session
Exclusive Virtual Office Hours (optional & encouraged)
March 3rd 9:00 am – 10:30 am
April 8th – 10:00 am – 11:30 am
May 7th – 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
June 10th – 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Although participation in the Academy is of no cost to participants, several funders are committed to the Academy and want to ensure participants are intent on leadership development, active participation, and completion of the course. For informational purposes, the approximate value of participating in the Academy is around $6,500/person.
This experience has been crafted to best support a person who
- Seeks to be a leader or is a leader in Kalamazoo nonprofits
- Has the desire and capacity to be a part of an intensive leadership development program
- Is familiar with and participates in ONEplace programming and engage in equity work
- Envisions a more equitable, more anti-racist Kalamazoo
- Has the support of their direct supervisor and executive director and the ability to not be present at work
- Has two to three years of experience working in the Kalamazoo community in nonprofit work
We also ask for commitment to attend each session prepared for active engagement. By this we mean, engagement in the cohort is vital to your success in this program. We understand that things may occur, and we are asking that you make a commitment to attend 100% of the sessions & activities.
Applications are due January 8th by 5pm and can be found here.
Please contact ONEplace with questions.