Leadership
Development
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The Servant Leadership Development Program (formerly the Leadership Development Institute) provides opportunities for a broad base of individuals from the urban core to participate in leadership positions. The ten month training program offers participants the opportunity to gain high-level management and leadership skills; to dialogue with regional leaders from all sectors; and to be groomed as catalysts for positive growth and change in Kansas City.
If you or your team associates need a little enhancement to take your performance from GOOD to GREAT, click on the links below to get additional information and/or to enroll.
Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity to develop the talent in your organization and support the Urban League's mission.
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The main objective of The Servant Leadership Development Program is to create a pool of diverse leaders equipped with the skills and commitment to serve the urban community. Participants cultivate an enhanced perspective of community issues (social, economic and political) and develop strategies that address those issues.
Past Participants
Organizations who have sponsored servant leaders include employees from the following companies: the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Osco Drugs, Environmental Protection Agency, AT&T, Kansas City Missouri Police Department, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City Missouri School District, Hallmark Cards, Aventis, Honeywell, Kansas City Royals, Commerce Bank, Health Midwest, Metropolitan Community CollegeDynamic Program
The Servant Leadership Development Program, which began in 1997, plays a key role in cultivating, educating and promoting diverse leadership in the region. Our primary role is to refer qualified volunteer leaders to organizations who seek minorities to serve in decision-making roles where they have the opportunity to improve the conditions under which the disadvantaged live.
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Program Components
Retreat
The Servant Leadership Development Program begins with a mandatory two-day retreat during the month of September. The retreat is designed to help the Fellows become better acquainted with each other; to review and clarify program expectations; to activate the Fellows’ sense of personal vision and personal responsibility for learning, leadership, growth and change; to help them develop their capacity to integrate learnings into their daily lives; to initiate the team building process and engage in team building exercises; and to help the Fellows understand their personality type and learning style preferences.Prior to the retreat, the Fellows are required to complete the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. The instrument is used to place participants into diverse Learning Teams. a personality assessment. Teams are responsible for developing and implementing a literacy project with a partner school.
Graduation and Reception
At the end of the 10-month program, a formal graduation and reception are held to celebrate. Class Fellows reflect on their overall experience. More importantly, Fellows share their aspirations and commitments to serve as volunteer leaders with representatives from sponsoring organizations, agencies, and businesses attending the event.
Monthly Sessions
The Leadership Fellows engage in nine intense half-day classroom sessions. From October through June, the Leadership Program meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Each session begins with a check in from each Leadership Fellow. Check-in time is an opportunity for the Fellows to share experiences with each other. The Fellows are free to share as much information as they feel comfortable expressing.Monthly session agendas include staff presentations. The skill building sessions involve three hours of facilitated instruction using various learning formats (problem-centered, case-based lectures simulation exercises, and debates). Each monthly session has a theme, and community leaders (individually or as panelists) are invited to have candid conversations with our Leadership Fellows.
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Community Impact Issues Forums
Through community impact issues forums, the Fellows are introduced to to local business, governament and community leaders they may not ordinarily have access to. Past participants include: Mayor Kay Barnes; Councilman Alvin Brooks; State Senator Yvonne Wilson; former State Senator Mary Bland; Judge Jon Gray; Judge John O’Malley; Judge Greg Gillis; Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields; former County Legislator Ron Finley; County Legislator Scott Burnett; Superintendent Bernard Taylor; Superintendent Marge Williams; former Superintendent Ray Daniels; former Police Chief Rick Easley; Peter Yelorda, Executive Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield; Steve Israelite, formerly of the Jewish Heritage Foundation; Pete Levi, President & CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Rev. Wallace Hartsfield; Rev. Robert Hill; Father Phil Eagan; and many, many others.Board Development & Training:
At least one monthly leadership session is designed specifically to address board development training. Leaders from regional boards and committees across the region volunteer to facilitate and participate in these sessions.
Learning Team/Literacy Projects:
Outside of the monthly sessions, Learning Teams devote volunteer hours to develop literacy projects with area schools. This enhances the academic achievement of students in the Kansas City Missouri School and Hickman Mills District and facilitates the growth of the Fellows as servant leaders, giving them knowledge and skills to help build healthy families and safe neighborhoods. Midway through the Servant Leadership Program, a visit is scheduled at each school where Learning Teams are working. Fellows arrange demonstrations and discussions related to their literacy projects. Progress is then evaluated by the Program staff and the Fellows themselves.
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More than 400 Fellows have graduated from the Servant Leadership Development Program increasing the number of minorities and others to assume positions of leadership.
After completing the Program, 98% of participants enrolled will graduate and 70-80% are identified and referred to organizations as volunteer (servant) leaders. Local boards, committees and organizations are well served by the growing pool of diverse leaders who are culturally sensitive and supportive to the needs of the urban community.
Perhaps what’s more important are the sustainable literacy projects developed by Fellows in area schools, because they continue to promote academic achievement. As Fellows, parents and students continue to work together, school attendance and performance, reading scores, communication skills, and relationships improve. Student confidence increases as well. |
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