National Hispana Leadership Institute Sets High Goals for 2010

The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) selected 22 Latina leaders from the public and private sectors to participate in its prestigious Executive Leadership Program. The Class of 2010 will kick off in San Juan Bautista, California, on February 22.

NHLI is the premier executive leadership organization preparing Latinas for positions of national and international influence, public policy impact and to contribute to the advancement of the Hispanic community. Its mission is to develop Hispanas as ethical leaders through training, professional development, relationship building and community activism.

Entering its 23rd year, the Executive Leadership Program is held in conjunction with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership, and consists of a four-week training curriculum that spans nine months and is implemented in four cities. The intensive learning experience provides training in cross-cultural communication, strategic management, public policy and leadership skills-building. In addition, each participant mentors two young Latinas and completes a leadership project in her community.

This is a highly competitive program. Every year, a national recruitment effort solicits applications from mid-career Latina leaders from the public and private sectors. Only 22 women are selected.

Each participant was selected for her outstanding community service record, professional and personal accomplishments, passion to make a difference in her community and commitment to pay it forward. “The 2010 fellows exemplify exceptional leadership and the positive contributions Latinas are making to our communities,” said Cristina Lopez, NHLI’s president. “The Executive Leadership Program will build on the strengths of each leader and promote social responsibility and stronger attention to the needs of the broader Hispanic community.”

The 2010 Fellows join a network of nearly 500 distinguished Hispanic women who have graduated from the national Executive Leadership Program. 

According to NHLI’s Impact Study: Transforming Latina Leaders and Communities -- a comprehensive assessment of NHLI leadership programs over the last twenty years -- NHLI has had a significant impact on communities across the country through more than 500 alumnae Leadership Projects, directly reaching more than 35,000 Latinas and touching hundreds of thousands of lives. Alumnae have directly provided one-on-one mentorship to more than 5,000 Latinas.

In addition to the Executive Leadership Program, NHLI offers the Latinas Learning to Lead program for young Latinas (17-22 years) enrolled in college, five regional Latina Empowerment Conferences in various cities, an annual Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards (Miami, FL November 4-5) and online training seminars. In 2010, NHLI will launch ALL IN (Advancing Latina Leaders in Nonprofits), a new program that seeks to cultivate, promote and sustain emerging leaders, Latinas 24-34 years of age, who work in the nonprofit sector.