Become a Leadership Graduate

Applications for the Leadership Academy are open to all individuals and are accepted at any time throughout the year. Space is limited because of a desire to achieve a class that is balanced and diverse. Here is a list of the upcoming Leadership Academies:

· January 2012

· April 2012

· September 2012

· November 2012

To be accepted into the Leadership Academy, applicants must be committed to active community leadership for the benefit of the greater San Diego LGBT community, possess a high standard of personal integrity, have an existing record or great potential for achievement in voluntary community leadership, and have the ability to commit the necessary time and effort to successfully complete the program.

If you are interested in applying, contact Ben Orgovan or Penny Ames at leadership@sdpride.org to get an application or call 619-297-7683 x 111 for more information.

San Diego LGBT Pride Leadership Academy

San Diego LGBT Pride Leadership Academy is dedicated to developing emerging leaders in our community who want to strengthen their skills, make an impact in their communities and join a network of top community leaders. The Leadership Academy is founded on the principle that the catalyst for change is found within our volunteers and should be nurtured and developed in order to effectively turn equality into reality.

San Diego LGBT Pride Leadership Academy provides a free, intense 8-hour course taught by community professionals that give the participants:

· A better understanding of their leadership role within the organization.

· Leadership skill building opportunities.

· Advanced training in event planning, production, and volunteer management.

· An opportunity to learn how to make decisions and involve team members effectively.

· An opportunity to learn how to communicate, delegate, and follow through effectively.

Leadership Academy Training Modules

The modules employ a mix of interactive exercises, presentations, and facilitated dialogues.

Leadership Academy Orientation

In the opening hour, class members get an overview of San Diego LGBT Pride, our mission, vision and values, along with a brief history of San Diego LGBT Pride locally. Leadership Academy expectations and guidelines are reviewed and participants engage in interactive exercises with their peers.

Fundamentals of Leadership

This section underscores the need for conscientious, committed volunteers who can take an active role in community leadership. Leadership concepts, including elements of style, effective techniques and strategies are learned.

Communication Skills and Styles

In this section class members are presented with a series of communication skill exercises with identifiable outcomes that are woven throughout all the sections. Each section will be personalized to enhance the abilities of each class member when communicating with each other.

Crisis Management and Intervention

Class members are introduced to the process by which an organization deals with any major unpredictable event that threatens to harm the organization, their stakeholders and/or the general public.

Dealing with Difficult People & Conflict Resolution

Here you learn that dealing with difficult people becomes easier if you understand that your primary role is to listen. By the time folks get to you “as an official representative” they feel like they have exhausted all their options. Reflecting their concerns and having an empathetic response, goes a long way to diffusing a potentially difficult situation.

Teamwork & Team Building

Team building exercises are mixed in through-out the day, giving participants an opportunity to get to know each other, build trust and create a sense of belonging.

Leadership Skill Building

Leadership is essential to getting things done. But the qualities of good leaders—self-knowledge, commitment, being open to change, willingness to look to others for support, and a desire to go the extra mile—can determine whether anyone chooses to follow. Skills will be identified and practiced.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service

We get a lot of advice about how to deliver great customer service. Many of the tips are reminders of what we already know (but we occasionally forget). But sometimes, we need more than a reminder. Sometimes it's helpful to have a system or, at least, some steps to follow.

The “T” in LGBT

Speakers share their personal stories and offer a unique perspective about the Transgender Community and the issues they face. Candidates will walk away with a better understanding of the challenges of the transgender community

The Leadership Academy Alumni Series

In an effort to keep our Academy Graduates in tune with community issues and continue to expand their knowledge base and network-building activities, the Leadership Academy Alumni Series offers quarterly sessions that cover local, regional, and national topics affecting our community.

These sessions give our academy graduates timely information, relevant knowledge and progressive ideas with the opportunity to meet with elected officials, local celebrities and leaders in our community.

San Diego LGBT Pride Service Leadership (Civic Engagement)

San Diego LGBT Pride’s Leadership Academy graduates are provided with opportunities to work on service projects as another way to give back to our community. In many cases, these efforts affect positive change for nonprofit organizations that are stretched too thin or are in under-resourced communities. For many Leadership Academy alumni, community service is the most fulfilling way to “pay it forward.”