Leadership 2020 updates: new cohort, new program, new website
Last week in this space I briefly touched on some new developments with the Leadership 2020 program. This week, I want to go into more detail about what the future holds for The Federation’s custom-built leadership development program.
Program Background
The Leadership 2020 program began over five years ago. It was The Federation’s response to what we (and many others) saw as a leadership gap in the community social service sector. Many long-time employees were retiring and organizations were concerned that no one wanted or could fill the vacancies.
The Federation talked to our members and to thought leaders around the world, we reviewed the research, and we inventoried the existing supports for sector leaders. What we came up with as a result of this work was Leadership 2020—a leadership development program for the sector, by the sector.
Today, the growth of Leadership 2020 remains one of The Federation’s four strategic priorities. In addition to our ongoing advocacy efforts, the Youth Education Bursary, and our commitment to reconciliation, I believe this program is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal for creating the kind of change we want to see in our communities.
New Cohort
As such, I am excited to announce that we will be issuing a call for applications for a new Leadership 2020 cohort in a few short months. This new blended cohort will begin with a 4-day in-person residency the week of March 5, 2018, and will conclude with another in-person residency the week of November 19, 2018. Participation will be open to Federation members, Federation partners, community members, and government employees.
This fall, we will offer a series of online information sessions about the program and the new cohort. I encourage each of you to take the time to learn more about Leadership 2020 and consider participating in this upcoming cohort.
New Graduates Program
One of our goals for the next five years of Leadership 2020 is to better support program graduates. Some of our graduates have continued to host learning groups among themselves over the past few years. While these self-organized groups have been a success, The Federation has also recognized the interest in a more formal support structure for graduates.
To this end, The Federation will be launching a new two-year graduates program in the spring (thanks to a grant from an anonymous donor). The program will continue to use the cohort model and will offer an opportunity to delve more deeply into the tools, processes, and theories used in the Leadership 2020 programs.
This graduates program will also include a community-based group project to translate learning into practice (within the supportive structure of the program) and will offer apprenticeship opportunities to foster connections and collaboration while helping us grow the Leadership 2020 facilitation team.
Stay tuned for more details over the coming months.
New Website
As part of the re-launch of The Federation’s website, Leadership 2020 participants now have dedicated cohort pages where they can view past webinar recordings, connect with other members of their cohort, and view some of the most popular leadership readings, reflections, and resources.
Emails with dedicated links and passwords have been sent to all past participants. As you can see, we are very excited about the future of the Leadership 2020 program. Watch for dates and details about information sessions in early fall!