Changing the Face of Leadership

BACKGROUND

In Closing the Leadership Gap, author Marie Wilson concludes that Alabama is at the bottom of most economic, health, and educational scales due to the neglect of a major resource: women. Leading Edge develops young women to lead in government, on corporate and non-profit Boards and in the community. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, when women fill 30% of seats at the tables of influence, a shift toward policies promoting family well-being occurs. Women in Alabama fill less than 10% of those seats. The face of Alabama leadership will change to the degree that the Leading Edge Institute can continue to invest in and equip young women to fill seats of influence. As a consequence, the entire state of Alabama will benefit. Leading Edge encourages students to live in Alabama once they finish their schooling - and many do. Our graduates include attorneys, accountants, teachers, financial planners and social change agents who are devoting their talents and energies to making Alabama a better place for all.

OUR STORY: Living on the Edge

As the only program of its kind in Alabama, the Leading Edge Institute (LEI) develops young women from all over the state to understand the systemic challenges in Alabama and what leadership processes will generate positive social change. We train women to be involved citizens who contribute to the well-being of other women and girls in meaningful ways. Program graduates report that being a part of LEI inspires and equips them to create social change in Alabama. To date, 244 women have graduated form a nine-month leadership development program that includes a Summer Institute, a service-learning based leadership action project, and Winter Summit designed to show the relationship between advocacy, philanthropy, and volunteerism. LEI graduates represent 43 of the 67 counties in Alabama, 25% are from Greater Birmingham area. 40% are women of color, 36% are from rural backgrounds. Among our graduates are attorneys, accountants, teachers, financial planners and non-profit employees devoted to making Alabama better. The need for women at the table to create change is urgent. We have willing young women, we need to train and activate them now.

Mission

• Expand each woman’s concept of leadership and their perception of themselves as emerging, competent leaders.
• Encourage women to stay in Alabama (after graduation) to work for positive social change in their communities.
• Support leadership action and personal growth through mini-grant funded student-created service-learning projects.
• Build skills in collaboration, communication, conflict management, project planning, diversity awareness, personal finance and advocacy.
• Engage women in learning about community development, poverty, state issues and the history of Alabama through field experiences.
• Build a supportive and on-going network of women among a diverse student population.
• Give women meaningful access to experienced leaders and mentoring relationships.

Statewide: Birmingham, Montgomery, Auburn, Jacksonville, Mobile, Gadsden, Ozark, Athens, Marion, Montevallo, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Troy