Our Community-specific Leadership Programs are geared for those exploring and stepping into community leadership roles. These are concise 18-hour trainings offered in a flexible format from two to seven weeks in length and adapted for specific community groups. Participants gain basic skills, knowledge, and experiences related to community involvement and leadership that may not have been available to them before. For some it is the first time they learn about their unique leadership style and what it means for community work. For others, it’s a means for learning about ways a meeting is typically run in the US, exploring inter-cultural communication and dispute resolution, or experiencing the support of a peer network for the first time.

These programs would not be possible without partner organizations that provide accessible meeting spaces, food, childcare, transportation, recruitment, and more. Our most recent partners include:

Karen Leadership Program

Wilder Foundation and the Karen Community of Minnesota plan and co-facilitate this program to provide Karen community members with information, skills, and resources. Participants learn to navigate social service and government systems, advocate for new arrivals, and connect with resources to help their community thrive while preserving their identity and culture.

Housing Leadership Program

In partnership with the St. Paul Public Housing Agency, residents of public and supportive housing learn to become more active members of their housing community or develop their leadership skills for positions on resident councils and boards. Communication, team building and dispute resolution are core skills developed in this program.

Latina Leadership Program
(Programa de Liderazgo Latina)

Wilder Foundation partners with a group of Latino organizations to make this program possible. Sessions are conducted in Spanish and co-facilitated by a Latina community leader to meet the skill building and community engagement needs and interests of participants. Topics covered include leadership styles, teamwork, dispute resolution, public speaking, and goal-setting for community action. The program is focused on Latinas who are beginning their involvement - or seeking more involvement - in the community.

Contact PattiJo Verdeja at 651-280-2457 or NLP@wilder.org to find out more about upcoming programs