Resources

Equality Leaders for the 21st Century: Women’s Learning Retreat

The Human Rights Campaign believes that women are key to our success as a civil rights organization and essential to the LGBT movement's ability to win equality for all. We also believe that we can and must reflect the diverse communities in which we live and work. That's why HRC is excited to offer the women's track of the Equality Leaders for the 21st Century program.

The core of the program is an intensive four-day transformational leadership learning retreat. The inaugural retreat was in January 2009. The next retreat is scheduled for January 31 – February 3, 2013, in Washington, DC. Applications are due October 28, 2012.

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The purpose of the women's track of the Equality Leaders program is to provide opportunities for women to strengthen their leadership and to support them as visionary and courageous social change leaders who will play a critical role in breaking through the many barriers to securing justice for all.

 

Who Should Apply

HRC invites all women-identified leaders who:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to social justice and LGBT equality
  • Currently are volunteering on HRC boards or steering committees
  • Are high performers who are in or intend to take on positions of leadership on HRC boards and/or steering committees
  • Are committed to developing their own personal leadership skills

 

The Goals

As a participant, you will:

  • See yourself as a leader and social change agent building a social justice movement and an inclusive HRC
  • Understand the impact of gender bias through the intersections of sexuality, power, race, ethnicity, gender identity and class to be able to lead resourcefully
  • Develop a higher skill set regarding cultural competence, cross-cultural communication, and breaking through the internalized voice of oppression that inhibits your leadership as a woman
  • Increase your awareness of women's unique approach to leadership
  • Increase your capacity to influence people through more effective communication and to give powerful feedback
  • Strengthen your ability to stand in your vision (individual and collective) as passionate, genuine leaders
  • Leave feeling renewed and ready to lead

 

The Facilitators

Leslie Sholl Jaffe 

Leslie Sholl Jaffe has over 22 years of experience in consulting and training as well as 6 years as the Executive Director of two non-profit organizations. Leslie manages whole system change, helping to unleash the full passion and potential of all stakeholders to unite in accomplishing their mission and goals. Her expertise is in leadership development, training design and facilitation, coaching for personal and professional development, and meeting facilitation. Her work with organizational effectiveness is deeply rooted in her commitment to helping individuals and organizations maximize their potential.

 

Eva Young

Eva Young is an Organization Development (OD) Practitioner who designs and delivers strategic interventions to organizations interested in creating high performing, inclusive and culturally effective workplaces. Building on 18 years of experience, Eva helps achieve long-term, sustainable change by working at all levels of an organization. As a coach, she supports leaders and individuals in discovering a greater number of choices for action and possibilities as they aim for new results in their personal and professional lives. Eva is also the founder of La Trenza Leadership Network, a transformative initiative to develop the capabilities of young Latinas to change the leadership landscape of the 21st century.

 

The Application

Application Process

Thank you for your interest in the women's track of the Equality Leaders for the 21st Century program. Please read through the application instructions before completing the application.

 

Application

Complete and submit an application form by midnight on October 28. Applications not submitted by the deadline will not be accepted. You have a number of options for submitting your application.

If submitting a Word or PDF application form, please email the completed application to [email protected] and include in the subject line "Equality Leaders for Women Application: [Applicant's Name]".

 

Letter of Recommendation

Nominees will be required to submit one letter of recommendation from an HRC board member or other steering committee leader. Letters should be no longer than 1-2 pages. Letters must be attached to an email and submitted by the October 28th deadline to [email protected]. Please include in the subject line: Equality Leaders for Women Recommendation: [Applicant's Name]. The letter of recommendation should include information about:

  • The applicant's leadership skills within the HRC steering committee and the local community
  • Her passion for social change
  • Her ability to work with others

 

Selection & Notification Process

Space for the women's retreat of the Equality Leaders for the 21st Century is limited. A selection committee of HRC Board members, staff, and Equality Leaders alumnae will select 24 finalists. Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Quality of each applicant's letter of recommendation and application
  • Commitment to LGBT equality and social justice
  • Past, current and future HRC involvement, including an intention to step up to a board or steering committee role
  • Diversity dimensions including but not exclusive to race or ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and geographic representation
  • Leadership capacity needed in a particular HRC steering committee or emerging community

Candidates will be selected and notified by mid-November 2012. If you have additional questions, please contact Hyacinth Alvaran at [email protected].