GLI Fellows are passionate about serving our community.  Yet are underrepresented in current leadership positions and operate outside the “board room”.  Rather their power lies in their places of worship, neighborhoods, and community-based organizations. 
Since 2006 grassroots leaders participate in this free, year-long program of leadership education, mentoring and networking opportunities. Helping grassroots leaders helps all of us make better community decisions. When we as a community broaden the public discourse, we will realize our economic and creative potential.

MISSION
To help emerging leaders in our community develop personal capacity and connections to lead in the context of community.

• Creates a new pool of leaders who will make positive change in the community, in neighborhoods, schools, boards, community affairs
• Develops leadership skills and networking connections in leaders from the under-represented sectors Sarasota and Manatee Counties
• Encourages participants to add their voices to the leadership equation
• Helps individuals and the entire community realize their economic and creative potential by broadening the  community discourse
• Increases the level of involvement in the community by program graduates

HISTORY
In 2002, the United Way of Sarasota County began a program to encourage diversity on local boards and committees. Subsequently, the Sarasota Herald Tribune considered replicating Focus on Leadership, a project sponsored by New York Times newspapers in Gainesville and Lakeland that inspired African-American community leadership through networking.  In 2003, United Way, the Herald Tribune, the Community Foundation of Sarasota Co. , USF and SCOPE collaborated to create the Grassroots Leadership Initiative which grew out of the two earlier efforts to engage community leaders.  

GLI is a free, year-long leadership development program that builds essential skills, mentoring and networking opportunities in grassroots from Sarasota and Manatee Counties.  Fellows also initiate community projects to address important issues and apply their skills to make a meaningful difference with other volunteers.  Twenty graduates are engaged in their respective communities where they are taking on more responsibilities and positions to help the Sarasota-Manatee area. 

Currently the 2008 class is completing their program year and recruiting has begun for the 2009 class.  What is unique about GLI are our participants called Fellows.    GLI Fellows are passionate about serving our community, yet are underrepresented in current leadership positions and operate outside the “executive board room”.  Rather their power lies in their places of worship, neighborhoods, and community-based organizations.  Through the Grassroots Leadership Initiative grassroots leaders are equipped with new skills and gain access to influential decision makers. As a community, we will realize our economic and creative potential when we broaden the public discourse.  Helping grassroots leaders helps all of us make better community decisions. 

PROGRAM
A leadership class of up to 20 Fellows recruited from Sarasota and Manatee counties join the program for a year with new classes beginning each January. 

Start Date: January of each with the Welcome Dinner. 
End Date: December with the Graduation Ceremony
Frequency of Meetings: Two to three sessions per month on evenings or weekends; leadership workshops, community project workshops, networking sessions and mentor meetings. GLI Fellows commit to participate in over 60 hours of development.
Cost to Participants: No cost thanks to the generous investment of local organizations, businesses and individuals within our community.

Program Components:

1. Leadership workshops
2. Networking sessions
3. Mentor relationship
4. Community project

Leadership Workshops
The leadership workshop component addresses leadership development in the context of community.  In each workshop, the role of leadership and practical application will be emphasized through discussions, assignments and readings. 
Example Workshop Topics:
Community & Leadership
Team Building & Motivation
Data Collection & Analysis
Relationship Building & Diplomacy
Citizenship
Local Government
Creating a Mission & Vision
Strategic Planning
Public Speaking
Fundraising
Meeting Facilitation & Conflict Resolution
Media & Informing the Community

Networking Sessions
The networking component of GLI will bring the Fellows together with local decision-makers and their organizations from Sarasota and Manatee counties.  This is an opportunity to build bridges, share ideas and learn from experienced local leaders from business, government, non-profit organizations and others areas.

Mentor Relationship
The GLI Mentor component offers a primary coach and guide for the Fellow’s development and growth as a leader.  Mentors provide the bridging link between workshops and the resources needed for the progress of essential leadership skills to become an effective grassroots leader and spokesperson for the community.  Mentors attend an orientation session and workshops prior to being matched with a fellow.  They collaborate to accomplish goals individually and for the community.  The mentor/fellow relationship should be based on mutual respect, enhancing leadership ability, goals and respectable frankness.

Community Project 
Each GLI Fellow engages in an individual or small group project that deals with a community issue of their choosing.  The purpose of the community project is to utilize leadership skills and to prepare and propel each GLI Fellow to their next step in community leadership.

WHAT IS A GLI FELLOW?
A Grassroots Leadership Initiative Fellow is an individual who demonstrates a passionate commitment to their community, by devoting their time and talents to their personal development for the betterment of their community.  A person in our community who desires to provide leadership around important community issues but lack access to appropriate opportunities to develop their leadership skills or encourage their growth and success.