The Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program 2023-2024 Cohort began their journey in September 2023 with a kick-off meeting in Sacramento, CA. Throughout the 11-month program, they will explore how to collectively influence others to create communities rooted in resilience and healing. The Cohort will come to completion in August 2024.
The 2023-2024 Program
The 2023-2024 EGL Fellow Program was developed based on the results and feedback from the pilot cohort conducted in 2021-2022.
This feedback was used to inform the fellow program content and structure, which included 1) Curriculum, to expand knowledge and build experience across program competencies, or Principles of Change, 2) Facilitation, to foster a safe space for collaboration, 3) Mentorship, to give and receive group and individualized leadership support, and 4) Collaboration, to learn by doing through community-driven, meaningful collaborative projects.
Throughout the pilot cohort, the EGL Program Team and Evaluation Team actively solicited input from fellows to gather their feedback. This valuable input was carefully considered, and when relevant, adjustments were made to enhance the program’s structure for the 2023-2024 Cohort.
Meet the 2023-2024 Fellows
We are excited to have 20 Fellows representing eight states and 19 different organizations in the 2023-2024 Cohort.
The Shared Vision
The 2023-2024 Cohort will develop a shared vision for their time together. The shared vision will be available here soon!
Principles of Change
Participants will gain knowledge and experience in equity-grounded leadership competencies, or Principles of Change.
An equity grounded leader:
Collaborative Projects
One of the most impactful components of the EGL program is the creation and implementation of collaborative projects to improve equity in behavioral health systems and services in Fellows’ organizations, communities, and/or regions. Fellows will work to design and implement these projects, with the support of project advisors and an evaluation team.
As Fellows begin work on their collaborative projects, additional information will become available.
Program Supports
Fellows will engage in 11 months of guided and self-directed program content. This includes in persona and virtual cohort meetings where fellows will participate in facilitated dialogue, hear from subject matter experts, and engage in time for self-reflection. They will meet with project advisors, receive individualized coaching, and engage in a variety of self-paced learning opportunities tailored to their individual or project goals.
The Program Team
The EGL Program Team models equity-grounded leadership and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the development and implementation of the Fellow Program. Their approach is person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and acknowledges that individual leaders have different experiences, abilities, and needs.
Ebony Chambers
Curriculum and Facilitation
Ms. Chambers has over 18 years of experience working with issues of social justice, equity, education, mental health and diversity. She is a speaker, educator, and workshop leader who has worked extensively throughout the United States and has served nationally and locally as an advocate and activist for access to care and the elimination of the stigma of mental illness for underserved and unserved communities. Her passion is community engagement and empowerment, equity, and working with leaders to achieve this mission.
Terrell Thomas, MSW
Facilitation
Terrell Thomas is a strategic leader who has nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, the educational system, and the governmental sector. She has helped organizations build capacity to advance their mission and DEI values for the betterment of the community. Her knowledge includes subject matter expertise in the areas of mental and behavioral health, child welfare, and juvenile justice. She brings both professional and personal life experiences to the work, and is extremely passionate about bringing to light disparities to improve outcomes for youth and families.
Aly Feye, MPA
Program Management
Aly is the Director of Operations at The College for Behavioral Health Leadership. As part of this role, she serves as the Program Manager for the EGL Fellow Program. Aly has 7 years of experience working on efforts to improve outcomes for youth and adults with behavioral health needs who may be involved in or at risk of becoming involved in criminal legal systems.
The Evaluation Team
The Equity-Grounded Leadership (EGL) Evaluation Team, through TriWest Group, LLC, have expertise and years of experience operationalizing equity through systems assessments, program improvement, and outcomes and process evaluation. They supported program development as an external evaluator and served as a consultant to the EGL fellows on the quest to take measurable action to create equitable systems.
The Project Advisors
The Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program Project Advisors support subgroups of Fellows by advising on various elements of their collaborative learning projects. Advisors bring diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, and systems level expertise; and have graciously offered time to support fellows in the development and implementation of projects designed to advance equity and anti-racism in their organizations, communities, or regions.
The Coaches
The Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program coaches support Fellows by providing one-on-one coaching tailored to individual leadership goals. We are proud to introduce you to the EGL coaches, who help guide Fellows on their journey to courageous inquiry of personal and professional biases that impact how one views theirself and others.
The Sponsoring Partners
The Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program 2023-2024 Cohort Sponsoring Partners recognize that the current systems are unjust. They committed resources to supporting applicants from their states or communities to be able to participate in the Fellow Program. We are grateful for their support!
The Sponsoring Partners
Become a Sponsoring Partner
To ensure cost is not a barrier to participation for leaders, we value the support of our sponsoring partners, which allow for participation of leaders who otherwise would not be able to through their organizations.
If you are interested in exploring becoming a sponsoring partner, please reach out to Holly Salazar, CEO.