Emerging Leaders™

EMERGING LEADERS™

Emerging Leaders™ (EL) is a training program for directly impacted people organized in collaboration with a community-based partner. Participants will have demonstrated a commitment to systemic criminal and/or juvenile justice reform.

EL creates a space for grassroots activists to become leaders at the forefront of efforts to dismantle oppressive systems in their own communities. Each EL training begins with a comprehensive needs assessment to determine the partner’s policy goals and progress in reaching those goals.

Over the course of two days, five key concepts are covered:

Leadership in Advocacy

Communication in Advocacy

Policy 101

Advocacy and Organizing
on the Ground

Capacity Building

After EL training, JLUSA serves as a technical assistance resource for program graduates who launch their own community-based campaigns. We provide trainees with tools for advocacy, organizing, and media and social media engagement. Trainees are connected to the Leading with Conviction network, including leaders in their own subject matter fields and geographic areas, and communities have the option of a 3- or 6-month post-training engagement to receive capacity building support and technical assistance.

Testimonials

"My experience as an organizer has taught me that the solutions to our problems are in the hands of those most impacted, and that is the lens that I will operate from. The training that I received from JLUSA helped to prepare me for this journey."

Marie FranklinEmerging Leaders™ Great Lakes 2022 participant

"This room is filled with powerful stories of overcoming the odds and breaking the chains of generational curses. The people in this room have a desire to be trail blazers, mountain movers, and to prepare the way for those following behind. There is so much heart, respect, and love in this room. This room is solution minded. This room is filled with hope in action. This room is empowered. This room is actively working for change. This room is filled with people who have committed crimes, done time, and changed their lives in some of the hardest circumstances. This room is filled with redemption, reformation, and responsibility. The people in this room inspire me."

Jessica JonesEmerging Leaders™ Milwaukee 2023 participant

"Thank you JLUSA and all of the partners who collaborated to bring us Emerging Leaders training for those directly impacted by the criminal justice system...WOW, what a weekend! Engaging with leaders from across the state for this awesome two day training was humbling and inspiring."

JenAnn BauerEmerging Leaders™ Milwaukee 2023 participant

Upcoming Emerging Leaders™ trainings

There are no upcoming events posted at this time. Please check back again soon!

Since 2014, JustLeadershipUSA has maintained our commitment to ensuring systems-impacted voices are at the forefront of the movement for criminal legal reform, empowering directly impacted leaders in over 45 states with the tools, resources, and connections to transform their work.

Your donation will provide crucial support for our leadership training programs, empowering future generations of leaders and propelling the work of JLUSA and our alumni as we continue to advocate and push reform on issues that matter the most in our communities.

In just 10 years, JLUSA and our network of leaders have worked to dismantle decades of harm caused by the criminal legal system.

Partner with us today to enable 10 more years of progress.

Emerging Leaders™