Emerging Leaders
We’re passing on our potion recipe for Emerging Leaders! Through 5 cohorts, the Emerging Leaders Program fueled the growth of leaders in our community. Through workshops on poverty, trauma, and Lakota culture and collaborative projects, over 140 participants gained the awareness, confidence, and connections to drive meaningful change in the Rapid City Community. Through their involvement, many participants have not only strengthened their own leadership but also contributed to lasting changes in our region’s nonprofit landscape.
However, as with all programs, evolution is key. After careful consideration about our internal capacity and listening to feedback from our partners and participants, we have made the decision to retire the Emerging Leaders Program at JTVF. This decision opens the door for new leadership opportunities and ensures that our support is aligned with the dynamic needs of our community.
Although this chapter is closing, our dedication to supporting leadership growth is unwavering. We are pleased to share that JTVF awarded the United Way of the Black Hills a two-year, $150,000 grant for Nonprofit 360, professional development programming for local nonprofits. Look for updates in the coming months on how to get involved.
“We talk about leadership in terms of an action one takes, not in terms of a position one holds. Leadership is about taking responsibility – both personal and social – for working with others on shared goals.”
– Paul Schmitz
About the Program
Each of us has the power to contribute to real systems change, an untangling of the programs, perspectives, and issues that create an environment that holds problems in place. The John T. Vucurevich Foundation Emerging Leaders program empowers participants to discover their role in addressing community issues and build the lasting, cross-sector relationships needed for systems change.
Throughout the year, leaders participate in a variety of gatherings: small group meetings, informational interviews, team exercises in creative thinking and problem solving, and trainings for the entire cohort.
Who is an Emerging Leader?
You! Too often we limit definitions of leadership by a specific set of qualifications, level of experience, status, or job title. Decisions that impact our community are made at all levels and everyone can contribute to change. So, if you live in the Rapid City area and care enough about an issue or situation to get involved, you are an Emerging Leader in our book. We look for motivated individuals from all sectors and walks of life.
What’s in it for participants?
This program brings together a diverse collection of perspectives, experiences, and worldviews to find mutual things to be excited about. In the end, Emerging Leaders create a strong network of people who care about each other and feel empowered and supported, whatever their personal or professional roles, to be the change they want to see in our community. They gain valuable tools on how to have conversations about how poverty, trauma, and Lakota culture and history impacts our community. Plus, we want this program to be accessible to all, so we pay our Emerging Leaders $1,000 to participate in the program.
Expectations
This program lasts 12 months with the following commitments:
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- 1 Cohort Retreat to establish relationships with fellow cohort members and learn about the John T. Vucurevich Foundation.
- 3 Cohort Sessions to build foundational knowledge in becoming poverty-informed, trauma-informed, and Lakota culture and history informed leaders and to showcase why these perspectives are important for anyone making decisions in our community.
- 1 Graduation to celebrate the end of the program and share learning lab insights as a project pitch.
- 1 Yearlong Learning Lab experience to design a hypothetical project as a way to explore and understand real issues in our community
Schedule
We are passing the baton of leadership development to United Way of the Black Hills in 2025. We will no longer host the Emerging Leaders program.