Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program
Learn More About How NELP is Empowering The Sacramento Community
Our Mission
NELP’s mission is to change the world for the better by developing a network of empowered, diverse leaders with the skills and passion for leading and for achieving catalytic change within their organizations, communities, and lives.
NELP is a collaboration of the Nehemiah Leaders Program, CORO Northern California, and Sacramento State University.
What Our Graduates Say About NELP
Miyishia Slay
“The program is great for connecting and networking with a group of highly motivated and inspirational individuals who push you to accomplish things you didn’t think possible. My biggest take-away is being able to meet young professionals such as myself, who pushed me to expand my way of thinking about my impact in the Sacramento region and beyond.”
Michael Broughton
“If you are looking to actively engage in a program that will challenge and empower your thoughts and actions in regards to leadership, business, and civic engagement with some of the Sacramento Region’s brightest leaders, you have found the right program in the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program. As an entrepreneur, I have experienced success with my businesses prior to NELP. Since joining the program my business acumen, civic engagement, and commitment to the growth within the Sacramento Region has been fine tuned. Through the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, I have worked with and have been mentored by some of the most influential people in the region.”
Saori Choulos
“This program is experiential, which is different from many other programs that teach theory and may practice some application. NELP provides not only experiential learning through CORO training, and guest instructors/speakers, but skills are practiced that can be incorporated into the workplace, community and personal lives immediately. The program has deepened my self-awareness in order for me to lead authentically and with greater accountability.
For Organizations
Developing Talent Throughout Sacramento
We often hear from regional CEOs who claim they are eager to promote young and diverse talent to senior-level positions and, in time, to their boards of directors, but too often the next sentence is that they “just couldn’t find anyone that was qualified.”
We know better. When we started NELP, our region was brimming with diverse and young talent, but they lacked a ladder to take them from where they were to where they aspired to be.
That figurative ladder is about more than training and mentorship. Young people need exposure, proximity to resources and champions that could help them on their way. NELP provides that. Since its beginning in 2009, NELP now has hundreds of alumni who are CEOs, entrepreneurs, elected officials and heads of nonprofits or otherwise using their leadership to create change to push our region toward valuing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
NELP has more than 200 alumni who are CEOs, entrepreneurs, elected officials and heads of nonprofits.
NELP graduates have taken several hundred of seats on boards and commissions and sit at the tables of leadership within our regional corporations. Our NELP family includes emerging and established leaders from all backgrounds: Hispanic/Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, Black, white, male, female, non-binary and LGBTQ.
It is in all of our interests for our region to be committed to the idea of widening the spectrum of opportunities so that more young people can make a difference and so that we, in turn, get the opportunity to take pride in playing a small role in their successes to come.
Sponsor a Future Leader
By nominating an Executive Fellow candidate, you are investing in your company’s future as well as that of the diverse communities you serve. The Emerging Leaders Program graduate will become an even more valuable asset to your company’s leadership team as they combine their experience with their new skill set.
Envision the Collective Gain
We all stand to profit from the energy and commitment of this new talent pool. Emerging Leaders Program graduates will not only represent the demographics of our region but will have the leadership training needed to add immediate value to community projects and organizations.
For Individuals
Taking Talent To the Next Level
The Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, a selective 10-month professional development program, prepares its Fellows for effective and ethical leadership in their companies and communities. NELP offers leadership training customized to the specific challenges faced by culturally diverse leaders. Fellows graduate to put their talents to work in the public and private sectors, acting as catalysts for positive change in our community. The Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program is a WIN-WIN-WIN for individuals, companies and the community:
We all stand to profit from the energy and commitment of this new talent pool. Emerging Leaders Program graduates will not only represent the demographics of our region, but will have the leadership training needed to add immediate value to community projects and organizations.
Join An Elite Cohort
If selected as a NELP Fellow, you will become part of an elite group of future and established community leaders. Through monthly full-day seminars, evening dialogues and mentorship by some of the Sacramento region’s most influential leaders, Fellows will learn cutting edge leadership skills including:
- Constructive feedback
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Political and economic systems
- Leading and managing group processes
- Organizational analysis
- Project management
- Self and group awareness
- Strategic public speaking and presentation skills
- Change management and innovation leadership
- Civic leadership
- Issues facing regional private and public sectors
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
- Understanding community systems and community problem-solving