The LGBT Leadership Institute develops leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community. The program provides historical perspective of the community and the LGBT equality movement, enhances leadership skills, and prepares the next generation of diverse leaders for greater community engagement.

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⇒ Provide a safe and nurturing environment to develop skills and explore the critical issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community.

⇒ Promote networking, dialog, and collaboration among leaders from across the community.

⇒ Encourage participants to apply their talent and skills to the benefit of the LGBTQ and the overall community.

The LGBT Leadership Institute strengthened my resolve as an ally. It was an eye-opening experience as an ally and as a first-generation Mexican-American to listen and learn of the history, challenges, advocacy, and wins of the community.
Maria Espinosa (Class of 2020)
DEI Program Manager, Brinker International

HISTORY

The LGBT Leadership Institute has graduated three classes since the inaugural year, 2019. The fourth class will graduate May 10, 2024. The average class size is fifteen. Graduates serve a year on committees such as Curriculum, Alumni, or Applications to help the program grow.

APPLICATION

Each year, the application period begins in January and closes in July. The class is chosen and notified in August. The cost of the program is $2000 per semester. There are scholarships available and can be requested in the application.

SESSIONS

The LGBT Leadership Institute meets once per month for 9 months, September – May. While the class has some input on the calendar, on average, the class meets from 9 am - 4 pm on the second Friday of the month.
The program was beyond my expectations. I was able to connect with community leaders and learn about issues of our community. It provided the opportunity for me to be exposed to powerful leaders, in addition to unveiling to the diverse needs in the community.
Dr. Antoinette Oliver, SHRM-SCP (Class of 2022
Chief People Officer, Alliance For Children
At one session, women from the House of Rebirth discussed the trans experience for women of color. Hearing their stories catapulted me on my ally journey. That’s something I took away from the LGBT Leadership Institute that continues to hold value for me.
Larry Nelson Guillen, CDE, CDT, SHRM-SCP (Class of 2020)
Senior Talent Management Product Manager, American Family Insurance
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LGBT Leadership Institute Calendar​

2024 - 2025 Meeting Dates

Below are the dates for the second Friday of each month from September 2024 to May 2025:

Sample Topic Calendar

  • September 13, 2024:  Orientation
  • October 11, 2024:  Strategic Planning
  • November 8, 2024:  Adaptive Leadership
  • December 13, 2024:  Equity & Inclusion
  • January 10, 2025:  Business Strategies
  • February 14, 2025:  Leading Through Change
  • March 14, 2025:  Community Health
  • April 11, 2025:  Community Organizing
  • May 9, 2025:  Graduation

Sessions generally begin at 9:00 AM and end by 4:00 PM.

All meetings occur on the 2nd Friday of each month.
Topics & meeting dates are subject to change.

Sample Session Topics

Actual topics may vary.

During the semester, the class receives a balance of education in three main areas:

I.   Leadership Skills Development

II.   Economic & Community Assessment & Needs through a lens of diversity, equity, & inclusion

III.   LGBTQ+ History

I.   Leadership Skills Development

♦   DiSC Assessment

♦   Change Management

♦   Creating a Culture of Accountability

♦   Strategic Planning

II.  Economic & Community Topics

♦   Equity

♦   Small Business Development

♦   Education

♦   Corporate Impact

♦   Housing

♦   Disparities based on race, gender identity, zip codes, sexual orientation, etc

III.  LGBTQ+ History

♦   Local

♦   State

♦   National

♦   HIV/AIDS

♦   Equality Business Movement