Deepen your leadership support network with YDEKC!
We are excited to announce our third round of Leadership Discussion Groups! This is a program exclusively for executive directors and leaders from YDEKC member organizations collectively focused on ensuring that Black, Indigenous, and youth of color thrive. Leadership Discussion Groups, launching in January 2023, will enable leaders in our network to build relationships with one another and share experiences and expertise related to key leadership topics. These groups will meet remotely once a month for informal discussions on topics of their choice facilitated by a rotating group member.
Why Leadership Discussion Groups?
When we launched the first round of Leadership Discussion Groups in March 2021, one of our key goals was to strengthen connections between leaders in the sector. We continue to receive positive feedback from participants. Here are some quotes from 2022 participants about what they appreciate:
“Learning from my colleagues and finding tangible solutions to our challenges. Real discussions, with real change makers.”
“Being in a group of all Black leaders. There was an automatic level of understanding and compassion with each other.”
“The affinity with other leaders experiencing similar challenges and to celebrate successes.”
We have consistently heard from our members that they value opportunities to learn and grow together, and want more informal time with peers to explore issues facing nonprofit leaders in the youth-serving organizations. These issues could include everything from supporting BIPOC youth, to recruiting and developing staff, to building an antiracist organization, to succession planning.
How will Leadership Discussion Groups work?
YDEKC will create Leadership Discussion Groups based on the scheduling needs and interests of participants, including desired demographic makeup of the groups. There will be a 90-minute Network Gathering in January 2023, which includes time for current and new groups to meet. After the kickoff, groups will meet once per month through at minimum June 2023 for open and honest discussion with peers. Each group will have a Logistics Lead to manage scheduling, attendance, etc. and members will rotate through a Session Facilitator role. YDEKC will support groups with ideas and resources.
We are strengthening the program with the following changes in 2023:
- A designated Logistics Lead (with honorarium) for each group
- Multiple in-person full-network gatherings
- Slightly larger group size to account for inevitable changes in individual member capacity or turnover
How can I join a Leadership Discussion Group?
We are currently recruiting new and returning participants for this program. If you are an Executive Director, department director, people manager, or another kind of leader within a YDEKC member organization and are interested in joining a Leadership Discussion Group, there are two steps to take by December 16, 2022:
- Confirm that your organization is a member by reviewing our YDKEC member list. Not a member? Learn more about joining YDEKC here.
- Fill out a Leadership Discussion Group Application.
If you have questions, please contact Anne Arias at aarias@ydekc.org.