Why ALI?

The Advanced Leadership Institute, inspired by the Legacy of Carl and Louis Stokes, engages leaders across three generations to learn about complex community issues and facilitate multifaceted change.

You will delve into the five Stokes policy areas:

  • Education
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • Workforce Development

ALI will challenge you to address critical problems in these policy areas and provide you with the collaborative skill set needed to elevate the discussion and advance solutions for lasting community change.

ALI Senior Fellows
The Senior ALI Fellows are a select group of civically engaged and influential members of the community with a keen interest in mentoring and supporting the development and work of future and current leaders. Senior ALI Fellows will be invited to participate.

Stokes Fellows
Stokes Fellows are individuals with a clear personal vision and considerable leadership experience and responsibility within their organization. The ideal Stokes Fellow comes from the not for profit sector, public sector, or private sector. Applicants will be mid to upper level administrators who demonstrate a strong interest in civic leadership or a commitment to at least one of Mayor Stokes’ five policy areas in their community or workplace.

ALI Junior Fellows
The Junior ALI Fellows are selected from students currently enrolled in Cuyahoga Community College’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy by Tri-C faculty and staff in consultation with CLC. Tri-C students, contact Dean Matthew Jordan with questions.

Interested in learning more about ALI, email Claudia Owens or call (216) 650-3312 with questions.

  • Class of 2024 Schedule

    Opening retreat and Commencement are full-day sessions. All other sessions are 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    • October 6, 2023: Opening Retreat
    • November 3, 2023: Session 1
    • December 1, 2023 Session 2
    • January 5, 2024; Session 3
    • February 2, 2024: Session 4
    • March 8, 2024: Session 5
    • April 5, 2024: Session 6
    • May 31, 2024: Commencement
  • Your Commitment

    Participants are expected at each session, including the culminating public experience in June.

    Tuition for the Class of 2024 is $1,500 for Stokes Fellows. Senior ALI Fellows pay no tuition.

    Limited financial assistance is available, and CLC will work with successful applicants to ensure tuition is not a barrier. Scholarships are determined via the scholarship application form that will be available on the same dates as the program application.

    There is a non-refundable $10 application fee.

  • Application Process

    Applications for the Class of 2024 are now open. There is a non-refundable $10 application fee. Applicants must have the full support of their employer and submit one recommendation as part of the application.

    Junior Fellows will register directly through Tri-C. Interested Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy students can contact Dean Matthew Jordan.

The ALI difference

At the end of each program year, participants indicate their level of agreement with a series of statements before and after the program. The charts below indicate the percentage of participants who agreed or strongly agreed with these specific statements.

I am able to think critically about how relationships between civic assets, issues, and stakeholders impact the health of the community.

I know about Cleveland’s civic assets, issues, and stakeholders.

To learn more about CLC’s evaluation process, visit our Impact page.


To learn more about ALI, email Claudia Owens or call (216) 650-3312.