Building Leadership to Enhance Diversity in the Independent Living Movement

Why a Diversity Leadership Institute?

Over time we have come to believe that an Independent Living Center can have talented staff, good program design and sufficient resources, but without strong, dedicated, skilled leaders, the organization and its programs may not achieve a sustainable cultural and disability competence shift necessary to truly serve our communities.

A Growing and Changing California

California is experiencing a demographic revolution in which California’s “Minorities” have become the majority! Over the last decade we have seen the largest numeric increase in both Latino and Asian populations,

California's Latino population rose from 7.7 million to 10.5 million from 1990 to 1999, a 36.4 percent increase. The Asian and Pacific Islander population grew by nearly 37 percent, from close to 3 million to just over 4 million.

At the same time, the state's non- Latino white population declined from 17.9 million in 1990 to 16.5 million in 1999. Non-Latino whites were 49.8 percent of the total state population last year, while in 1990 they were 57 percent.

Other California minorities showed increases, but far smaller than Asians and Latinos. American Indian and Alaska Native populations grew by 9.4 percent, while the African American population increased by 8.7 percent.

Meanwhile advances in medical technology and pharmaceuticals are allowing the California Disability and Senior communities to live longer.

There has never been a more significant need to increase the cultural and disability competence of Independent Living Center management, staff, boards and volunteers more than there is today.

The Diversity Leadership Institute is interested in strengthening the cultural and disability competence and organizational development skills of ILC staff. We will achieve this by providing training and support to ICL staffassisting create Diversity Change Initiatives within their organizations that are dedicated to improving the independence of the diverse communities we serve.

The goal is to send a diverse group of highly skilled leaders in Diversity, Cultural and disability competence and Organizational Development  back into their organizations - better skilled, further motivated, with a stronger vision - to lead those around them into creating more diverse and culturally competent organizations, programs, services and communities.

Program Design

The Diversity Leadership Institute will offer competitive fellowship opportunities to 12 Independent Living Center staff throughout California.  Fellows will participate in a year long Diversity and Organizational Development training program that will teach not only the elements of diversity, but provide tools, resources and mentorship to make sustainable organizational change.

The foundation of this fellowship is built on providing training, ongoing support and mentorship that will enable the fellow to develop skills, try out methods for change, get feedback, and try again. Fellows will be connected through a listserv, engage in monthly webcast trainings and meetings, and enjoy quarterly face-to-face trainings.  Fellows will have the ongoing support and mentorship of the Diversity Committee members, and learn from an experienced Diversity consultant who will assist us in developing the Institute’s training curriculum.

Through the use of Independent Living Philosophy, we believe that the Diversity Leadership Institute will empower fellows with the knowledge, skills and support they need to make real, measurable and sustainable improvements in the cultural and disability competence of their ILCs.

As Fellows near the completion their program, they will recruit incoming Fellows, and give back to the Diversity Leadership Institute by providing training and support to the new Fellows, while continuing to develop their own skills in training and organizational development.

Program Curriculum

DLI Curriculum topics include:

• Defining various diversities in multiple contexts
• Fostering leadership
• Achieving diversity change strategies
• Organizational development
• Organizational change strategies

Program Schedule

CFILC has established the following schedule for training delivery:

September Webcast Trainings
(2 webcast trainings)

When: Friday, September 29, 2006 from 10am to Noon
Subject: Characteristics of a Culturally and Disability Competent Disability Rights Advocacy Organization

October In-Person Training Module
When: Friday, October 6, 2006 from 9am to 5pm Where: CFILC in Sacramento

November Webcast Training
When: Monday, November 6, 2006 from 10am to Noon
Subject: California Demographic Analysis 101

December Webcast Training
When: Friday, December 15, 2006 from 10am to Noon
Subject: Leadership Development and Facilitator Readiness Strategies

January In-Person Training Module
When: Friday, January 26, 2007 from 9am to 5pm
Where: Sacramento
Subject: Organizational Development: Getting Down to Business

February Webcast Webcast Training
When: Friday, February 9, 2007 from 10am to Noon
Subject: Effective Outreach in Underserved Disability Communities

March Webcast Power Point Trainings
When: Friday, March 9, 2007 from 10am to Noon
Subject: Developing Diversity Initiatives and Resources at Your ILC

April In-Person Training Module

When: Friday, April 20, 2007 from 9am to 5pm      

Subject: Organizational Change: “If You Build It, They Will Come”

Presentations