For further information, contact:
Holly Riddle, NC Council on Developmental Disabilities, 919-850-2901
Roy Wallace, The Wallace Group, 877-832-4548 or roy@wallacegroup.com
LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NONPROFIT MANAGERS
WINS SUPPORT OF NC COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Success of first stage of Advancing Strong Leadership programs prompts extension
to assure effective future leadership of organizations serving needs of people
with intellectual and other developmental disabilities
A strong, positive response to a three-year leadership development program for managers of nonprofit organizations serving people with disabilities has won support for an extended program from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities. Called Advancing Strong Leadership in Developmental Disabilities, the program recently graduated its first group of professionals in the field.
Initially prompted by the need for strong, future leaders for disability organizations, given the number of managers nearing retirement age, NCCDD Executive Director Holly Riddle says the results so far have been promising, “giving us the sense that these agencies will be in good hands in the future. Our confidence in this development program has been well justified.”
The program is conducted by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities of the University of Delaware, with co-directors Steven Eidelman and Nancy Weiss. The new program will feature sessions spread over an 18-month period, down from the original three years.
The goal of the program remains the same, said Riddle, “to select a group of people with leadership potential and to build a top notch cadre of managers, committed to advancing the values and practices that produce outcomes that really matter to people with disabilities and their families.”
The revised calendar for sessions is expected to ease time pressures on both participants and program directors. “We expect that this revised time period will work best for participants, who also must deal with a variety of professional responsibilities, while providing us with time for analysis of results and recruitment in the intervening periods,” said Eidelman.
A spokesperson for the first group of graduates, Kerri Erb of the Autism Society of North Carolina, said, “We became even more excited about what the future may hold and our commitment to the goals grew.” Also looking ahead was graduate Zondra Moss, Easter Seals UCP, Charlotte, who said, “It has been a great experience and has helped me focus my vision for the future and develop a plan of action that will make me a more effective advocate and leader.”
The first session of the new Advancing Strong Leaders program is expected to be held in October 2012.
The 40-member North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities was established in 1973 and seeks to support effective, innovative initiatives that improve the lives and promote community inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Council awards grants to grass roots advocacy groups, government agencies, disability nonprofits and other community organizations.
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