LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SEEKS PASSIONATE APPLICANTS

Program prepares participants to contribute to Chicago’s civic leadership
Art Sims
Art Sims

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

SEEKS PASSIONATE APPLICANTS

Program prepares participants to contribute to Chicago’s civic leadership

CHICAGO — ADA 25 Advancing Leadership — the first program in the nation with a vision of people with disabilities leading with power and influence for full participation and equal opportunity in the Chicago region — is now accepting applications for its 2020 Leadership Institute.

The year-long Leadership Institute offers emerging leaders tailored training, mentorship, and networking opportunities rooted in disability rights. This competitive opportunity is open to energetic, aspiring leaders who self-identify as having a disability (visible, invisible, or acquired); reside or work in one of the seven Chicago-area counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Will, and McHenry); and have at least five years of leadership experience (professional or volunteer).

Up to twenty Fellows are chosen each year. Those who apply to the Leadership Institute by September 9 are guaranteed an in-person interview; the final application deadline is October 9.

“Disability is an essential part of the rich diversity of Chicago and the nation - over 800,000 people have a disability in the region alone. Yet, our decision making tables are missing a critical voice. People with disabilities are underrepresented in the region’s nonprofit boards, task forces, public commissions, and more”, says Emily Harris, executive director of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership. “Our Leadership Institute helps to close that gap, creating a network of support and learning for individuals with disabilities who have a passion for change.”

The Institute’s training and programs designed to advance Fellows’ leadership skills, include:

• A two-part, multi-day immersive retreat

• The development of an individual leadership plan, and ongoing support from a mentor to move each plan forward

• Opportunities to pursue leadership positions in the nonprofit and public service sectors, with a focus on readiness and preparation

• Regular meetings and networking events with other members, and connections to civic leadership opportunities

While the Chicago region has hundreds of thousands of civic leadership positions, only a handful are filled by people who self-identify as having disabilities. With a focus on personal leadership and civic engagement, the Leadership Institute is one of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership’s key strategies in increasing civic and engagement and diverse leadership. So far, Advancing Leadership has seen over 150 civic and professional advancements.

For more information about applying to the Leadership Institute or nominating a potential applicant, visit ada25chicago.org/apply or contact Robin Burnett, program manager, at 312-616-6765 or rburnett@cct.org.

About ADA 25 Advancing Leadership:

Disability is a natural part of the human experience, yet, people with disabilities remain underrepresented in the workplace and in civic and professional leadership in our communities. ADA 25 Advancing Leadership is changing the leadership of our region to be more reflective of our diverse population.

ADA 25 Advancing Leadership was founded in 2015 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is the first program of its kind in the nation. Bringing people with disabilities to tables of power and influence will provide new insight, perspective, and innovative solutions to issues affecting our region today. Our vision is that people with disabilities leading with power and influence for full participation and equal opportunity as a vital part of the civic fabric in the Chicago region. Our mission is to increase civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region by developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities — consistent with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

ADA 25 Advancing Leadership’s supporters include The Chicago Community Trust, MacArthur Foundation, BMO Harris Bank, Exelon, JPMorgan Chase, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Field Foundation of Illinois, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.

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