leadership exploration and development

LEADERSHIP EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Program
Information
Package
www.GoAffirmations.org
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES
Authentic Leadership: Fellows will explore their own LGBTQ
identities and how they playout in the work place. The fellows will also
assess and develop leadership competencies.
Mindfulness: Fellows will learn techniques of wellness and resilience,
key skills for a successful leader.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Affirmations L.E.A.D. (Leadership Exploration
and Development) Institute is a first of its kind
transformational leadership program designed to
provide emerging LGBTQ professionals education,
training, networking, and mentoring opportunities
to enhance their own personal and professional
leadership development, build interpersonal
networks and begin to position themselves in a
leadership role within for-profit, public sector and
nonprofit organizations in the Metro Detroit area.
In 2016, the Affirmations L.E.A.D. Institute will
serve 30 Metro Detroit professionals ages 30-45.
INTERPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES
Support Network: Fellows will participate in mentorship triads with
other L.E.A.D. Institute fellows. Through these triads the fellows will
strengthen their ability to build relationships, problem solve, and give
feedback.
Community: Not only will the L.E.A.D. Institute teach the fellows to
be leaders in the work force, but also in their community. Each triad
will select a local nonprofit and navigate volunteering to create ties to
their community.
EXPERIENTIAL PRACTICES
Career Management: Fellows will create their Leadership
Development Plan at the start of the program year to set
development goals and will use it as a benchmarking tool to monitor
progress on their goals throughout the year.
Capstone/Graduation: The program will culminate in a capstone
project in which the fellows will present how they have grown over the
course of the 6 months.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
•Fellows will understand their own leadership style and vision.
•Fellows will acquire and apply leadership knowledge and skills.
•Fellows will develop mentoring and networking relationships to
advance their personal leadership development.
•Fellows will complete a Leadership Development Plan to guide
their growth as leaders.
www.GoAffirmations.org
ABOUT THE LEAD DESIGNER/PRESENTER
BILL HUFFAKER
An expert in Global Talent Management and Talent Acquisition,
Bill Huffaker is passionate about designing forward-thinking talent
strategies that transform corporate cultures, effect system-wide
change, and optimize employee engagement and performance.
Bill joined General Motors in November 2012 and is Global Director
of Talent Management and Talent Acquisition. Based in Detroit,
Michigan, Bill ensures that GM has a robust talent pipeline to meet
the current and future business demands for talent at all levels in
the Company. Previously, Bill was with Google in Mountain View,
California, where he was Talent Development Leader. Bill was also
Director, Global Talent and Organizational Capability at Microsoft in
Redmond, Washington and was Head of Global Talent Planning at
Visa in San Francisco.
Bill holds a Ph.D. and Master’s in Human and Organizational Systems
and a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
ABOUT
AFFIRMATIONS
Founded in 1989, Affirmations is the largest LGBTQ community
center in Michigan, and one of the 10 largest LGBTQ community
centers in the country. Affirmations delivers a holistic array of highquality programs and services, while providing a welcoming space
for metro Detroit’s LGBTQ community to grow, learn and feel fully
supported. In 2007, Affirmations moved into its current home (The
Allan Gilmour and Eric Jirgens Community Center) – a 17,000 squarefoot building designed to include environmentally friendly features,
a two-story art gallery, an outdoor rooftop sky deck, a library and a
computer center.
ABOUT
THE FELLOWS
The Affirmations L.E.A.D. Institute is designed for LGBTQ
professionals between the ages of 30-45 years old. Each 6-month
cohort will have a maximum of 15 fellows who will be selected
through a competitive application process. Those interested in
becoming a fellow will be required to complete an application
and provide two letters of recommendation, including one letter
of recommendation from a current employer. Selection of fellows
is based on leadership potential (as evidenced by scope of
responsibility and positive career movement) and volunteerism/
civic engagement.
www.GoAffirmations.org
PROGRAM
SCHEDULE
The first cohort of the
Affirmations L.E.A.D. Institute
will begin in January 2016 and
end in June 2016
JANUARY 2016
Module #1
Authentic Leadership: In
this session, fellows explore
their identities as leaders,
addressing the question,
“Who am I?”
FEBRUARY 2016
Module #2
Career Management: In
this session fellows address
the question, “What is my
legacy?”
MARCH 2016
Module #3
Support Networks: In this
session, fellows explore their
social networks and how
trusted advisors can help
them achieve their career
aspirations. The session
addresses the question, “Who
can help me?”
APRIL 2016
Module #4
Mindfulness: In this session,
fellows learn how concepts
like resilience and wellness
can help them sustain
their learning, growth, and
achievement of their potential.
The session explores the
question, “How can I help
me?”
MAY 2016
Module #5
Community: In this session,
fellows explore the question,
“How do I pay it forward?” It
encourages them to multiply
their leadership in the
community for causes they
care deeply about.
JUNE 2016
Capstone/Graduation
In this final session, fellows
synthesize their learnings
and discuss how to continue
their learning and growth. It
answers the question, “How
have I changed and how do I
keep growing?”
CANDIDATE CRITERIA
• LGBT professionals between
the ages of 30-45 years old
(min. Bachelor’s degree)
•Five+ of years of work
experience in the public,
private or non-profit sectors
•Two+ years of public, private
or non-profit experience in
a leadership or management
position
•Two letters of
recommendation (one
recommendation must be
from current employer)
•Track record of volunteerism/
civic engagement in the
community
•Commitment and ability
to fully participate for the
duration of the six-month
program
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT
No financial contribution is required from the fellow.
TO APPLY
Complete the application form and submit along with two (2) letters of recommendation, your
resume or bio and a recent color headshot either by email or mail to:
LEAD@goaffirmations.org
Affirmations
ATTN: L.E.A.D. Institute
290 W. Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, Michigan 48220
Applications are also available online at www.goaffirmations.org.
Please Note: The completed application, and all required attachments must be received no later
than 5pm, Monday November 16, 2016. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
www.GoAffirmations.org
Fellow Application
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Date of Birth:
Preferred Gender Pronouns:
Highest Degree Earned:
Please provide a list of your volunteer activities. Include your membership and involvement with any boards,
committees, churches, civic and educational groups. (Please list on separate sheet)
GENERAL INFORMATION
(Please list your responses to each question on separate sheet. No more than 300 words per response)
1. How did you learn about the Affirmations L.E.A.D. Institute?
2. Explain why you would like to be a participant in this program.
3. What is your definition of leadership?
4. Describe an experience you have had in a leadership role.
5. In your opinion, what are the top three issues in metro Detroit impacting the LGBTQ community?
6. How do you plan on affecting positive change in metro Detroit?
7. What areas of professional and/or leadership development do you think you need support with?
8. Please share any additional information that you believe the Selection Committee should know about you.
www.GoAffirmations.org