The National Hispana Leadership Institute Seeks Second Class of Program Tackling the Scarcity of Latina Leaders in the Nonprofit Sector

Online Applications Are Now Available for Next Generation Women of Color to Sharpen Leadership Skills in the Nonprofit Sector.

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After a successful launch last year of an effort to address the underrepresentation of Latina professionals in the nonprofit sector, the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), the nation's premier organization developing, connecting, and promoting Latina leaders, is recruiting for the second class of the Advancing Latina Leaders in Nonprofits (ALL IN) Program.

The only program of its kind in the nation, ALL IN targets Latina nonprofit leaders between the ages of 24-34 years of age. With the continued support of the American Express Foundation, ALL IN seeks to prepare, promote and sustain the next generation of nonprofit leaders by helping young Latina professionals develop their leadership and management skills, find their voice as effective community leaders, and build their external networks; and by providing access to role models and mentors.

With an increasing number of open leadership positions in the nonprofit sector, ALL IN is critical to addressing issues of Hispanic underrepresentation. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, new executive jobs in the nonprofit sector are expected to blossom within the next five years. Two thousand of the roughly three thousand executive directors surveyed across the country by the Meyer Foundation expect to leave their jobs within five years. As baby-boomers continue to retire, it is estimated that the nonprofit sector will need about 500,000 new senior managers in the next 10-15 years. The leadership pipeline however is seriously lacking for Latinos. Hispanics total about 15% of the U.S. population and are expected to exceed 30% by the year 2050, yet Hispanics of both genders account for about 4% of leadership positions in nonprofit organizations.

"Latina women are the voice of the Hispanic community, and key leaders in the advancement of programs for women," said Barbara J. DesMarteau, NHLI's Acting President. "To build the leadership pipeline for the upcoming generation of Latinas, it is imperative that they have skills and training necessary to occupy the forthcoming vacancies in nonprofit leadership positions."

The ALL IN Program will offer training, mentoring and practical experience in the form of a capstone/leadership project. The training components will consist of a fall session in Los Angeles, California from November 1-5 (in conjunction with the NHLI Annual Executive Leadership Conference), a series of webinars, and a six-day nonprofit management institute in May 2010 (in partnership with Georgetown University Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership).

Eligibility for the program includes the following:

• ·Currently employed by a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3).
• ·Have 3-10 years of nonprofit experience.
• ·Are between the ages of 24-34.
• ·Demonstrate strong leadership as indicated by community volunteer and civic engagement.
• ·Have a strong commitment to Latina/o issues.
• ·Complete the online application no later than Friday, August 26, 2011.

The ALL IN curriculum will focus on leadership styles and strengths, differentiating between management and leadership, communications skills, strategic planning, and other nonprofit management topics. While gaining insight into public policy issues affecting the Latino community, ALL IN fellows will meet other outstanding and diverse Latinas from across the country and become part of a powerful national network of Latina leaders. During the program, they will earn a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Georgetown University Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership and will afterwards apply the skills, strategies, and tools provided to address an organizational need/challenge through their leadership project. Fellows will also engage in peer to peer coaching, an opportunity to interact with peers who have like minded careers, to exchange thoughts, professional advice, and success stories.

Twenty two leaders from across the country, reflecting diverse geographic and Hispanic subgroup representation will be selected for the second ALL IN class. Selection will be based on a competitive process that looks at applicant skills and attributes, accomplishments, life and career goals, and leadership potential.

To ensure that ALL IN has impact beyond the 22 participants, the program will include mentoring and community leadership project components. With each fellow receiving mentorship and in turn mentoring at least two other young Latinas, an additional 44 Latinas will be directly impacted by the program every year. Hundreds more will further benefit from the leadership projects implemented in communities across the country.

Thanks to the support of the American Express Foundation and other donors, selected candidates will only be required to cover a small participation fee on a sliding scale based on organization size in addition to transportation costs to Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC.

ALL IN applications will be available online until August 26, 2011. To learn more visit http://www.nhli.org follow NHLI on Twitter @NHLI, or contact Evelyn Garcia Morales, Program Manager, at [email protected]. All accepted applicants will be notified by October 7, 2011.

The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) is the premier executive leadership organization preparing Latinas for positions of national and international influence, public policy impact and contribution to the advancement of the Hispanic community. Founded in 1987 to address the disparity of representation of Latinas in leadership, NHLI's mission is to develop Hispanics as ethical leaders through training, professional development, relationship building and community activism. NHLI has developed hundreds of Latina leaders who have gone on to become elected officials, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, executives at nonprofits and powerful decision makers for nearly a quarter-century. www.nhli.org

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850. One of American Express' three platforms for its philanthropy programs is Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow. Under this giving initiative, which recognizes the significance of strong leadership in the nonprofit sector, American Express is making grants focused on training high potential emerging leaders to tackle important issues in the 21st century.

SOURCE National Hispana Leadership Institute