Multicultural Coalition and Leadership Academy of Will County

The Multicultural Coalition and Leadership Academy of Will County are a collaboration between Lewis University, Family Bridges, and Spanish Community Center. Founded in November 2018, the Coalition and Academy* are two distinct programs for nonprofit and public sector leaders to engage in multicultural leadership in Will County.

*We are now accepting applications for the Multicultural Leadership Academy for the Spring Class of 2020. Applications are due January 31st, 11:59pm. More information below.

Multicultural Coalition of Will County

The purpose of the Multicultural Coalition of Will County is to serve as a community of trusted peers and support group for working through diversity-related problems and concerns within our own organizations and to develop meaningful connections across organizations to maximize the positive impact we can have on the community as a whole.

Meetings are held monthly at the Joliet Public Library on the last Thursday of the month from 6-8pm.

Multicultural Leadership Academy

The purpose of the Multicultural Leadership Academy is to bring together and train emerging leaders to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities that our diverse suburbs face in the nonprofit sector. Through the academy, they will form a strong network that can call upon each other to continue making Will County a great place for all to live.

Classes take place on Saturday mornings at Lewis University. More information is below.

Multicultural Leadership Academy Class of Spring 2020 | Clase de Primavera 2020

English / Ingles Español / Spanish

The Multicultural Coalition of Will County invites you to nominate one or more of your staff members to participate in the second cohort of the Multicultural Leadership Academy of Will County, which is a collaboration between Family Bridges, Lewis University, and Spanish Community Center. The purpose of the Multicultural Leadership Academy is to bring together and train emerging leaders to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities that our diverse suburbs face in the nonprofit sector. Through the academy, they will form a strong network that can call upon each other to continue making Will County a great place for all to live.

Benefits to your organization include:

Leadership development through skills such as public speaking, nonprofit basics, collaboration, etc.
Engaging with the local community by applying new skills and knowledge to a community-based capstone project. Last year’s capstone projects included topics such as:
- Supporting Diversity in the Nonprofit Workplace
- Documentary: “Undocu-chronicles of Will County”
- Anti-racism Mini Grant Program in Will County
Networking with peers and experts in the nonprofit field committed to cross-cultural dialogue and social change

To maximize these benefits, this program is designed to meet weekly between February and May 2020 on Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm at Lewis University. Speakers include professors, nonprofit executive directors, experienced grantwriters, retired business executives, among others.

We understand this time commitment may be difficult for some workplaces. However, these emerging leaders will bring back new ideas, energy, and relationships relevant to our multicultural community and context. The Academy has a $500 value which includes lunch, expert guest speakers, skills workshops, and more. Thanks to generous grant support, the cost is $150 per individual in 2020 and scholarships are available on a limited basis for those unable to meet this commitment.

Should you have any questions, please email multicultural@spanishcenter.org. We hope to have your organization represented this semester!

Click here to download the Multicultural Leadership Academy application

La Coalición Multicultural del Condado de Will le invita a nominar a uno o más miembros de su personal para participar en el segundo grupo de la Academia de Liderazgo Multicultural del Condado de Will, que es una colaboración entre Family Bridges, Lewis University y el Centro Español. El propósito de la Academia de Liderazgo Multicultural es reunir y capacitar a líderes emergentes para que puedan enfrentar los retos y oportunidades de liderazgo que nuestros diversos suburbios enfrentan en el sector sin fines de lucro. A través de la academia, ellos formarán una fuerte red que puede llamarse unos a otros para continuar haciendo del Condado de Will un gran lugar para que todos vivan.

Los beneficios para su organización incluyen:

Desarrollo de liderazgo a través de habilidades como hablar en público, fundamentos de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro, colaboración, etc.
Comprometerse con la comunidad local al aplicar nuevas habilidades y conocimientos a un proyecto comunitario. Los proyectos finales del año pasado incluyeron temas como:
- Apoyo a la diversidad en el lugar de trabajo de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro
- Documental: “Undocu-chronicles of Will County”
- Programa de mini subvenciones contra el racismo en el condado de Will
Establecimiento de redes con colegas y expertos en el campo de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro comprometidos con el diálogo intercultural y el cambio social

Para maximizar estos beneficios, este programa está diseñado para reunirse semanalmente entre febrero y mayo de 2020 los sábados por la mañana de 9am a 1pm en Lewis University. Entre los oradores se incluyen profesores, directores ejecutivos de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, experimentados otorgantes de subvenciones, ejecutivos de negocios retirados, entre otros.

Entendemos que este compromiso de tiempo puede ser difícil para algunos lugares de trabajo. Sin embargo, estos líderes emergentes traerán de vuelta nuevas ideas, energía y relaciones relevantes para nuestra comunidad y contexto multicultural. La Academia tiene un valor de $500 que incluye un almuerzo, expertos invitados, talleres de habilidades y más. Gracias al generoso apoyo de la subvención, el costo es de $150 por persona en el 2020 y las becas están disponibles de manera limitada para aquellos que no puedan cumplir con este compromiso.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a multicultural@spanishcenter.org. ¡Esperamos tener su organización representada este semestre!

Haga clic aquí para descargar la solicitud de la Academia de Liderazgo Multicultural

Multicultural Leadership Academy Class of 2019 | Clase del 2019

Congratulations to the Class of 2019 for a successful first cohort! These dedicated leaders have gone on to present their diversity work at the state level, found successful new nonprofit organizations, make vertical career moves, gain competitive internships, and make valuable impacts in the Will County community and the surrounding area.

¡Felicidades a la Clase del 2019 por un exitoso primer grupo! Estos líderes dedicados han presentado su trabajo de diversidad a nivel estatal, empezaron nuevas organizaciones exitosas sin fines de lucro, subieron a puestos nuevos de trabajo, obtuvieron pasantías competitivas y han tenido un impacto valioso en la comunidad del condado de Will y nuestros alrededores.

Sylvia Acosta Chavez

Spanish Community Center

Samantha Ante

Metra Staff Inc.

Christopher Browne

Family Bridges

Ana Campa

Youth United to Advocate, Spanish Community Center

Victor Xavier Colon

Youth United to Advocate

Claudia Davila

Spanish Community Center

Isabel Gloria

Joliet Township High School

Lorraine Guerrero Neumayer

Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

Erica Holmes

Forest Park Community Center, National Hookup of Black Women, Eastside Neighborhood Council

Rebecca Hosford

Community Activist

Archana Liggins

Northern Illinois Food Bank

Maureen Lopez Plasencia

Spanish Community Center

Liliana Martinez

Lewis University

Mariza Rocha

Lewis University

Estefania Rodriguez

Joliet Junior College

“I found the most helpful [aspect was] that we were students from different backgrounds and fields
that were able to learn from each other, and that helped me change my perspective in
different aspects. I was exposed to great community leaders that are also helping
the Hispanic community and they inspired me to keep doing more. Also being
involved with different leaders gave me the opportunity to plan projects with them
and to really work together to better help our area. I feel like we not only made
connections but made meaningful friendships.”

Samantha AnteClass of 2019

“I gained two different things. First is a clearer understanding of the way that society functions, particularly with respect to minority and underprivileged populations. Second, I have more confidence professionally within my organization, as I better understand how it functions and the role it plays.”

Christopher BrowneClass of 2019

2019 Featured Speakers Included:
- “Basics of Nonprofits” with Mike Trench, Community Foundation of Will County
- “Advocacy through Storytelling” with Ana Vive, In Lak’ech Chicago
- “Public Speaking” with Emily Normand, Lewis University
- “SWOT Analysis” with Don Schwarz, Executive Service Counsel
- “Measuring Outcomes” with Jacki Peterson-Sluder, Executive Service Counsel
- “Running a Nonprofit like a Business” with Dr. Alicia La Hoz, Family Bridges
- “Issue Based Advocacy” with Maria Manzo
- “Self-Examination Workshop” with Marv Baldwin
- “Intro to Grantwriting” with Barbara Norris Coates
- “Asset Based Community Development” with Raul Raymundo, The Resurrection Project
- “Unleashing the Power of Love” with Dr. Gerry Bouey, Lewis University and TBG Leadership and Consulting
- “Food Justice” with Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective
2019 Program Made Possible by Funding From:
- Community Foundation of Will County
- Spanish Community Center
2019 Partner Organizations Included:
- Family Bridges
- Lewis University
- Greater Joliet Area YMCA
- Joliet Public Library
- Spanish Community Center