CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE
Lead with courage
Nadine Hall, Greenhills School
In vibrant communities, all people are welcomed, included, valued and nurtured. The racial disparities our communities face, though, prove that we’re not there. Champions for Change inspires and cultivates leaders as we all work toward a co-liberated future. Together, we can find new ways to disrupt the many forms of racism.
Our community of practice is a space for imagination, healing, experimentation and transformation. Here, Leaders of Color are nurtured and supported as they grow their social change work. White Leaders learn ways to wholeheartedly leverage their power and privilege for justice. Together, we’re laying the groundwork for systemic change in our communities.
Why Champions for Change and why NEW?
Our nonprofit ecosystem doesn’t include enough mission-driven leaders of color as decision-makers. Yet representation – a seat at the table – isn’t enough. To truly shift power and foster cultures of belonging, we must value leaders of color for who they are and what they offer. NEW invests in leaders of color by cultivating communities that are supportive of their leadership, so that we can move toward justice together.
For Leaders of Color:
Explore and cultivate your power and leadership in loving community.
For White Leaders:
Unpack and find your role in an anti-racist society.
Applications for the 2021-22 Fellowship are now closed.
Interested in joining the Champions for Change community? Click the button below to sign up for updates
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are Champions for Change’s Objectives?
- Deepen leaders’ understanding and skills for advancing social and racial justice, equity and inclusion along individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal lines.
- Enhance the cohort participants’ emotional skills and practices of courage, resilience and compassion to sustain justice work.
- Honor the wisdom and experiences of the CFC community by uplifting their knowledge and expertise.
- Strengthen relationships among leaders in Washtenaw County who are focused on racial justice.
- Support the Champions for Change community in identifying and upending policies, practices and procedures that create barriers to justice and liberation within their institutions and spheres of influence.
- Advocate for leaders of color to assume leadership roles on boards, committees, task forces, public office and community-led projects to better reflect the communities that they serve.
How Do I Know if Champions for Change is Right for Me?
Our Fellows are Washtenaw County leaders from diverse backgrounds, committed to advancing racial justice and social change in various ways. They are eager to partner with others across lines of difference and form deep relationships. They’re ready to grow and learn both individually and collectively.
The Leaders of Color (LOC) Fellowship is open to self-identifying People of Color. Our White Leaders (WL) Fellowship is open to self-identifying White or White-presenting people. Fellows must be 18 years or older and live or work in Washtenaw County. Fellows must also have stable access to the internet in order to engage in the 2021-22 program. We recognize that this may be a barrier for some and will do our best to make the program more accessible going forward. This fellowship is open to anyone in the Washtenaw County community, regardless of citizenship.
What Are the Application Criteria?
The most important element of your application is your personal commitment to advancing racial justice in Washtenaw County. Here are additional criteria we’ll consider when reviewing your application:
- We’ll consider whether you are qualified:
- Do you live or work in Washtenaw County (regardless of citizenship)?
- Will you have access to the internet, in order to engage fully in this virtual program?
- We’ll consider the diversity of the cohorts, with the following identities in mind:
- Race/Ethnicity
- Gender (identity or expression, beyond the binary welcome)
- Age
- Work – sector and industry
- We’ll want to know that you’re open to learning, ready to engage, and willing to be vulnerable in the right moments. You need to be ready to grow individually and collectively.
- We’ll want to feel that you’re committed to deepening relationships in our community.
How Does Champions for Change Work?
Leaders of Color (LOC) and White Leaders (WL) each commit to an eight-month-long intensive leadership development program, which meets monthly, in three-hour sessions. Each program emphasizes building relationships, sharing stories and practicing deep listening; we devote space for work within and between cohorts.
Each cohort will include 18-22 leaders of diverse identities and different communities in Washtenaw County. At this time, all sessions in the 2021-2022 program will take place virtually.
Why Two Tracks?
How Much Does It Cost?
We are asking $1,000 per person from those who are able to pay. Please note that NEW is willing to work out a monthly payment plan, if this is requested. Payments or arrangements for a monthly payment plan should be completed by Wednesday, September 15th, 2021.
We recognize that this cost may not be realistic for some. And we do not want cost to be a barrier to your joining this community. The support of the Washtenaw Coordinated Funders also allows us to make scholarship funding available to some who need it. Even if you are concerned about the cost, we encourage you to apply. We will do our absolute best to make it work.
We also want to encourage employers to sponsor their staff. For those who are able, consider sponsoring applicants to both cohorts. If you are interested in having one of your team members attend, please review the application criteria and ask your team member to complete the application. Prior experience has taught us that this is the best way to encourage institutional change. Your organization can do better than an anti-racism statement. Invest in your team!
Champions for Change 2021-22 Schedule
| Leaders of Color | White Leaders | |
| Orientation |
Saturday, September 25th 9am-12pm |
Saturday, September 25th 9am-12pm |
| Session 1: Grounding in Our Stories |
Saturday, October 23rd 9am – 12pm |
Sunday, October 17th 3pm – 6pm |
| Session 2: Washtenaw Historical Journey |
Saturday, November 13th 9am – 12pm |
Saturday, November 13th 9am – 12pm |
| Session 3: Introduction to Dialogue |
Saturday, December 4th 9am – 12pm |
Sunday, December 12th 3pm – 6pm |
| Session 4: Courageous Conversations |
Sunday, January 23rd 3pm – 6pm |
Sunday, January 23rd 3pm – 6pm |
| Session 5: Embedded Racis and Embodied Resistance |
Saturday, February 26th 9am – 12pm |
Sunday, February 20th 3pm – 6pm |
| Session 6: Reflecting on Our Organizations |
Saturday, March 12th 9am – 12pm |
Sunday, March 20th 3pm – 6pm |
| Session 7: Visioning |
Saturday, April 9th 9am – 12pm |
Saturday, April 9th 9am – 12pm |
| Celebration |
Sunday, May 8th 3pm – 6pm |
Sunday, May 8th 3pm – 6pm |
| Idlewild Retreat (Tentative) |
Friday, May 20th – Sunday, May 23rd Depart at 9am – Return at 5pm |
There was no moment that I didn’t feel cared for. The facilitators were so thoughtful and intentional, in every possible way.
Yen Azarro
Leader of Color 2019-2020
visual artist, creator and connector