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Developing Community Leaders in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

LeadDIVERSITY is a program in which a select group of professionals engage with community leaders and one another to raise the participants’ awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging issues, build their leadership skills, and enhance their network. Each session is designed to help participants explore the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and leadership and to analyze its personal, workplace, and community impact.

Class Composition

Participants of LeadDIVERSITY will be from various corporate, non-profit, governmental, and community organizations. The program is for anyone who has an interest in the impact of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at work, in their personal lives and/or communities.

"LeadDIVERSITY helped me to find my own voice and exceeded my expectations. I am very grateful for this experience!”

Our Process

The LeadDIVERSITY program approaches diversity, equity, inclusion, & belonging, and leadership issues from a no-fault, interactive foundation with the goal of affecting positive change.

Emphasis is placed on personal and professional growth through self-reflection, group participation, and practical skill enrichment.

The class meets in person to engage with regional leaders in the corporate, non-profit, and civic arenas who hold diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as high values. Group members also look to one another throughout the year as a source for information, experience, and dialogue.

Program Goals

Participants Gain:

A greater awareness of personal identity, privilege, and systemic oppression.
Expanded knowledge of local experts, organizations, and resources.
A tool kit for addressing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in personal and professional settings.
An ability to be an advocate for inclusion and equity.

Organizations Gain:

Employees with an increased understanding of the connection between inclusion and organizational success.
Employees with enhanced organizational leadership skills and a vision for the future.
An organizational diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging assessment and action plan.

“Thanks to LeadDIVERSITY, I am turning myself from a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging supporter to a leader.”

Application and Selectivity

Each year’s class of up to 35 individuals is selected through a competitive application process. The selection committee seeks applicants with strong leadership skills and a commitment to learning in community.

For questions, please contact Jessica A. Daigler at jdaigler@diversitycenterneo.org or contact us online.

Participation Requirements

The LeadDIVERSITY program consists of 9 sessions and Graduation. The first session is mandatory. Programming will include:

Seminars
Small group breakouts
Personal reflection
Conversations with Northeast Ohio’s prominent leaders
In-depth facilitated group activities and discussion
Case studies
Program evaluation

Full participation is essential to the LeadDIVERSITY experience. Recognizing that illness and changes in business schedules can occur, participants may miss no more than two sessions. Missing more than two sessions will jeopardize the participant’s eligibility for graduation.

Tuition and Payment

Tuition for each participant in the LeadDIVERSITY Class of 2026 is $4,500.

Applicants may be sponsored by their employers, or with agreement from their employer, may sponsor themselves.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available based on financial need.

What Our Participants Are Saying

“I want to express my appreciation to Jessica, KJ, Peggy, and the DCNEO team for so thoughtfully crafting the LeadDIVERSITY program to explore the tenets of diversity, equity and inclusion for professionals throughout Northeast Ohio. The program’s content is robust and varied, and the format allows for extensive introspection as well as shared dialogue. There is no doubt that this program will help me forward the DE&I initiatives of my organization and boost my personal commitment to equity and inclusion.”

“LeadDIVERSITY is a life-changing experience. This program takes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging from concept, to practice, to application. I have gained knowledge and skills that will serve me in my work and my daily life for years to come. I’m forever grateful to this program and the opportunity to learn with and get to know my classmates.”

“LeadDIVERSITY provided a place for me to truly take my understanding of and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion to the next level. Having open and honest small group discussions with professionals from various fields and backgrounds was incredibly valuable and impactful.”

Are You Ready to Spark Positive Change?

If you are interested in transforming mindsets at the place where you live, work, teach, or go to school, we can help!