LEC

• Participants develop emotional intelligence competencies such as listening, self-awareness, and constructive interpersonal communication techniques to deepen organizational belonging and authentic connection. 
• Participants foster personal habits of introspection and mindfulness as an essential facet of understanding community voice and perceiving value from varied perspectives.

LEC is intended to increase the capacity of participants to lead for equity through:

• Increased self and organizational awareness;
• A toolkit (strategies, assessments, guidelines) for assessing policies and practices;
• Access to a network of organizations open to partnership/collaboration in efforts to increase inclusion and equity in the community; and
• Access to ongoing support and consultation to leverage the organization’s “critical mass” of program alumni to reinforce their internal and/or external efforts to demonstrate equity.

The success of LEC requires a diverse group of participants, across race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, perspective, background, employment and time in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Participating organizations are encouraged to strategically identify individuals who can be leaders for inclusion and equity within the organization.
CBI’s preference is that organizations send two representatives at a time, optimally as diverse a pair as possible, but understands that this might not be possible or appropriate in all cases.

Organizations commit to:

• Examine their commitment and capacity for increasing access, inclusion and equity both internally and in the community and their ability to set goals/strategies for both.
• Strategically identify representatives to participate in LEC with an emphasis on their capacity for leadership in the equity space.
• Support organizational representatives so that they can actively and consistently participate in all LEC program sessions.
• Respond in a timely manner to CBI’s requests for organizational assessments and other evaluative tools connected to LEC.
• Convene their LEC participants (along with LDI graduates, as appropriate) at least once annually to build internal capacity and commitment, consider support needed from CBI and to assess progress toward desired outcomes.
• Utilize their LEC representatives to sustain organizational commitment and capacity for promoting inclusion and equity.
• Commit to continued future participation in LEC, as appropriate.
• Support the LEC program through a financial contribution to CBI. Financial support may take the form of a Program Sponsorship or organizational tuition. CBI will also consider a sliding tuition scale for smaller non-profit organizations (budgets < $500,000).

Participant profile:

• Demonstrates a capacity and commitment to equity within the organization they represent;
• Communicates a desire for and commitment to a personal development experience;
• Commits to investing the time and personal energy that LEC requires; 
• Commits to utilizing LEC tools and strategies within the organization they represent, and in the community, as appropriate and possible.

LEC consists of 10 monthly sessions held on Fridays, with the exception of the two-part orientation, which will occur on a Friday evening and Saturday morning. Sessions will be held at locations across the community. Consistent attendance is vital to achieving desired results – for individual participants, their organizations and for CBI as the program sponsor. 

While free or validated parking is available at some locations, participants should be prepared to pay prevailing rates for session parking. To support full participation, breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages are made available. 

The inaugural cohort will begin with a two-part orientation in January 2024. Tentatively, the schedule is as follows:

Two-Part Orientation: January 11,  6:00 – 8:00 PM & January 12, 9:00 AM– 1:00PM  

Session 2:  February 2, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 3:  March 1, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 4:  April 5, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 5:  May 3, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 6:  June 7, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 7:  August 2, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 8:  September 13, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session 9: October 11, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Session 10: November 8, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Graduation: TBD as graduates will be encouraged to join the annual Builders Breakfast which is on the second Friday in December. 

CBI will abide by local mandates and reserves the right to temporarily suspend LEC or to transition to a virtual format at any time in order to protect the health of program participants and staff.

Tuition for LEC is generally $4,500 - $7,500. Generous support from CBI Sponsors makes it possible for CBI to offer a sliding scale tuition/scholarships to smaller non-profit organizations for whom the full tuition would be a barrier to participation, and CBI will also consider payment plan requests.  However, every organization is expected to contribute a minimum of $2,750 to help offset the cost of the program.