Program explores 5 key policy areas impacting Cleveland
September 30, 2024 (Cleveland, OH) – Three generations of leaders in the Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI) are set to explore issues that continue to challenge Cleveland and begin fostering understanding, relationships, and collaboration to create change in the community.
The annual program was launched in 2018 as a collaboration between the Cleveland Leadership Center (CLC) and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) during a community-wide 50th anniversary commemoration of the election of Carl Stokes as Cleveland’s first Black mayor.
When the program kicks off October 18, as in previous years, the ALI Class of 2025 will focus on five policy areas that were of primary concern to Mayor Stokes and his brother, U.S. Rep, Louis Stokes: education, health, housing, safe communities, and economic mobility. A core part of the program’s curriculum is a book Tri-C published in 2017, “Stokes – Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, 1967-2017,” which examines progress made on each of the five issues.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity to carry the Stokes legacy into the future as ALI explores opportunities to address each issue,” said CLC President and CEO Becky Ruppert McMahon. “The leaders in ALI are ready to step up to continue the work to build a more equitable community,”
Ruppert McMahon said it was especially important that ALI participants represent a unique blend of individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences: college students alonside leaders who have deep work experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
“We have seen from past cohorts that this CLC program provides tools, insights, and connections that make a difference,” Ruppert McMahon said.
Participants include:
- Mandel Scholars: Students enrolled in Tri-C’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy.
- Stokes Fellows: Upper-level leaders who are committed to at least one of the five Stokes policy areas.
- Senior Stokes Fellow: Senior-level leaders or retirees who are involved with the community and have a desire to mentor and support the development of future leaders while remaining engaged themselves.
“The Advanced Leadership Institute opportunity provides our Mandel Scholars with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with leaders in Cleveland’s business government and nonprofit networks,” said Paul Cox, Interim Chair of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College. “It also provides them with a robust peer network from which to build their own social and professional foundation in Cuyahoga County.”
CLC Senior Fellow Dr. Claudia Owens will guide the class from the opening retreat to monthly sessions that expose participants to leaders and organizations working in each policy area, while exploring key leadership skills needed to lead change in these areas.
Past participants have shared how deeply the program impacted them. As Laurice Kennedy-Brown, Community Engagement Director for, Union Miles Development Corporation, wrote about her ALI Class of 2024 experience: “I have grown as a leader as (ALI) has helped to increase my strategic thinking skills, communication skills, and ability to inspire and motivate others. It equipped me with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate complex challenges with confidence and resilience. I have expanded my network, gained invaluable insights and developed a deeper understanding of effective leadership skills. My journey with the Advanced Leadership Institute has been instrumental in shaping me into a more effective and impactful leader.”
The program is supported in part by Tri-C and by a grant to CLC from the Cleveland Foundation’s Encore Cleveland initiative to offer meaningful community engagement opportunities for Greater Clevelanders who are in or nearing retirement.
After commencement, participants become part of a network of nearly 11,000 alumni of CLC programs including Look Up To Cleveland for high school students; Campus Cleveland, college students; OnBoard Cleveland, young professionals; Cleveland Bridge Builders, mid-career professionals; Leadership Cleveland, senior-level leaders; Legacy Leaders, retirees, and Civic Leadership Institute, adults of any age.
CLC also presents the annual Spark: Grit to Great symposium on innovation in leadership and the annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change civic pitch competition which marks its 11th year on February 20, 2025. Every Wednesday, CLC offers a free, virtual Leader Lunch Break series so anyone can learn about community issues and happenings in an informal conversation with top leaders.
Visit www.cleveleads.org/ALI for more about the Advanced Leadership Institute. Visit www.cleveleads.org for more about CLC.
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About the Cleveland Leadership Center (CLC)
The Cleveland Leadership Center’s mission is to build a continuum of civic leaders committed to our community’s excellence by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement. CLC believes in the power of individuals to make positive change and inspires and connects them to transform Cleveland.
Media contact
Michael E. Bennett, Chief Advancement Officer
Work: (216) 592-2426, Cell: (216) 408-3874, mbennett@cleveleads.org