THE METROWEST LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
The flagship program of Leadership MetroWest
Each year the Leadership Academy brings together 30 established and emerging leaders from every sector of MetroWest to explore issues, institutions, resources, and opportunities in the region.
Leadership fellows emerge from their year-long Academy experience with valuable cross-sector connections, community knowledge, and a strong sense of personal direction. They are invigorated, confident, committed, and better prepared to help effect community and organizational change.
Participants engage in monthly site visits and discussions with local, regional and state leaders and experts and experience diverse schools of thought and team-building while refining their personal leadership capacity and cultivating relationships with other leaders.
THE PROGRAM
After a professionally facilitated two-day team-building orientation in September, Academy fellows meet monthly through June to learn from first-hand sources. Topics explored include government, business, the economy, arts & culture, public safety, education, environment, health & human services, transportation, and housing. (Sample Academy Curriculum)
Another element of the program is an innovative leadership curriculum designed to help identify, expand, and enhance seven leadership capacities. It is a clear and useful approach to leadership that can apply to business, nonprofits, and municipal government. The curriculum includes antiracism, equity, inclusion, and justice in the context of being a leader.
As part of our commitment to antiracism, Leadership MetroWest recognized its own challenges as an organization, as well as the leadership challenges faced by Academy participants and alumni, in addressing racism in their communities and workplaces. The shared responsibility to reshape MetroWest’s inclusive and equitable future, and to become more reflective as individuals and organizations, now is one of the pillars of the Academy curriculum.
At each monthly Academy program, time is set aside for work on one or more community service projects that will have a positive impact in the region. Leadership fellows get hands-on experience in every aspect of creating and implementing a community-based initiative and being part of a team.
EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE
There are 800 Leadership Academy alumni –“uncommon leaders serving the common good.” Individually and collectively, they have had a positive impact on our region’s quality of life and economic development.
Leadership fellows emerge from their year-long Academy experience with valuable cross-sector connections, community knowledge, and a strong sense of personal direction. They are invigorated, confident, committed, and better prepared to help effect community and organizational change.
If you’d like to know more about joining the next Academy program, yourself, or nominating someone you know, contact the Executive Director at info@leadershipmetrowest.org