Cooperative Leaders and Scholars Program
Ends on
The Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS) provides cross-sector leadership development and builds professional networks for new and emerging cooperative leaders and scholars. This 8-month fellowship provides opportunities to participate in multi-sector programming and events, and to engage with thought leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders. This community empowers and trains its fellows to build a more inclusive economy in North America, together. The experience is open to new and emerging cooperators: current employees or board members, post-secondary students, or others interested in working for, creating, or leading a cooperative or cooperative organization.
Designed to deepen and broaden knowledge of cooperatives and the role the model plays in meeting economic and social needs of communities, the program is structured to empower participants to shape their experience for maximum value as they connect and collaborate with peers and industry experts.
As a participant, you will:
- Participate in an 8-month program designed to deepen and broaden your knowledge of cooperatives and the role of the co-op model in meeting the economic and social needs of communities
- Be a part of a community that can provide ongoing peer support and professional development opportunities
- Co-create a capstone project
- Participate in exclusive networking events
- Learn from industry experts in a series of webinars
- Get to know the cohort in-person at a weeklong event in Hudson Valley, NY and NYC from April 20- 24 that will include co-op tours and training workshops.
- Attend a weeklong event in Washington, DC from October 5 - 9 featuring NCBA CLUSA's Co-op IMPACT Conference, CDF's Cooperative Hall of Fame reception and induction ceremony, a one-day course from the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary's University, and co-op tours.
Fellowship includes:
- Registrations for the Co-op IMPACT Conference, Cooperative Hall of Fame, and International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary's University course
- Hudson Valley, NY, NYC, and Washington, DC co-op tours
- Access to exclusive networking events and webinars from industry experts
- Peer-to-Peer and Mentor-to-Mentee opportunities
- Travel stipend ($1,000 total), accommodations, and meals for two in-person events
- $30 metro card for Washington, DC
- $600 honorarium
CLS applicants must live in North America and fall into at least one of the following categories:
- Emerging leaders in cooperatives, credit unions, and mutual insurance (ages 18 - 35)
- New to cooperatives (fewer than 5 years of experience in co-op work)
- Current post-secondary students of any age
Timeline:
- December 5 - Application portal opens
- February 2 - Applications due by 11:59pm ET
- February 16 - Applicants notified of status
- February 23 - Due date to accept fellowship invitation
- March 17 - Cohort publicly announced
- April 1 - Program kickoff (virtual)
- April 20 - 24 - Weeklong in-person meeting in Hudson Valley, NY and NYC
- May - September - Virtual programming
- October 5 - 9 - Weeklong in-person convening in Washington, DC
- November - Virtual programming
- December 2 - Virtual graduation/wrap-up
Contact Kirstie Boyette at kboyette@ncba.coop for more information.
For technical difficulties, please contact support@submittable.com.