Andrea Farr, Author at Young Leaders Council

FranklinIs: Young Leaders Council Announces Fall 2024 Graduates

Dec 9, 2024 | All Alumni, Nashville Alumni, News, YLC News

88 young professionals complete YLC’s fall training program and prepare to serve local nonprofits

Brentwood, Tenn. – December 3, 2024 – Young Leaders Council (YLC), the only nonprofit in Middle Tennessee committed to broadening and strengthening Nashville’s volunteer leadership base, today announced that 88 young professionals from the Nashville and Williamson County Fall 2024 Cohorts have completed the organization’s nonprofit board skills training program.

After kicking off in September with a celebratory opening session and keynote addresses from Derek Young of Young Motivation Group as well as Julia Bonner-Zade and Bri Carlesimo of Pierce Public Relations, this diverse group of emerging professionals completed YLC’s comprehensive nonprofit board training program, equipping them to serve local organizations in meaningful leadership roles. YLC training is facilitated by industry experts and provides a foundational understanding of topics deemed critical for effective nonprofit board leadership.

Participants completed the program in November and are now set to begin internships as non-voting board members for various nonprofits across Middle Tennessee. Through these placements, graduates will apply their new knowledge to make immediate contributions to dynamic organizations, supporting YLC’s mission of strengthening Nashville’s nonprofit sector by training diverse, committed individuals to effectively participate on the boards of nonprofit organizations and make a difference in the community by replenishing the volunteer leadership base.

Nashville/Williamson County Cohort

“It’s a privilege to witness the growth and connections made by each of our program participants throughout the semester,” said Kim James, Executive Director of YLC. “Each one brings a remarkable passion for making a difference and deepening their understanding of board governance. We’re eager to see how they will shape our community and leave a lasting impact on the nonprofit landscape in Middle Tennessee.”

Nashville Cohort

A complete list of Fall 2024 graduates can be found below:

For over 39 years, YLC has provided intensive, high-quality board leadership training, placing over 3,500 alumni who have made a tangible impact through board service for local nonprofit organizations. Through partnerships with local nonprofit partners, each YLC participant is uniquely challenged throughout the semester to identify their passions and connect with an organization whose purpose and work aligns with that passion to further improve our community. YLC is proud to have the support of philanthropic partners such as The Frist Foundation, HCA Healthcare Foundation, Truist Foundation, and The Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation, The Memorial Foundation, Turner Construction Foundation, and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Young Leaders Council is also grateful for the generosity of its 2024 Annual Presenting Sponsors, Amazon, Tractor Supply Company, Parking Management Company, and Asurion.

Young Leaders Council announces launch of Board Connect

Aug 26, 2024 | News

New platform transforms how nonprofit organizations source board members, board interns and volunteers

Brentwood, Tenn. – August 23, 2024 – Young Leaders Council (YLC), the premier nonprofit in Middle Tennessee committed to broadening and strengthening the volunteer leadership base in Williamson County and beyond, today announced the launch of its innovative Board Connect platform. This first-of-its-kind platform in Middle Tennessee connects YLC graduates who’ve received 11 weeks of nonprofit board skills training with nonprofit organizations across the region seeking qualified board members, board interns and volunteers.

Board Connect employs advanced matching technology to align the profiles of individuals and nonprofits based on shared interests and needs. Nonprofit organizations can create profiles on the platform to list available board and volunteer positions. YLC graduates can then easily search for and identify opportunities that match their experience and expertise, facilitating direct connections with organizations in need of their skills.

“Board Connect is a significant step forward in advancing our mission to cultivate the next generation of nonprofit leaders,” said Kim James, Executive Director of YLC. “By facilitating these vital connections, we are simplifying the ways nonprofits source qualified board members and volunteers. We are also providing our program graduates direct access to opportunities that fit their skills, experience and passions while supporting their long-term engagement as leaders in the community. It’s a win-win.”

Currently, the platform is exclusively available to 2024 YLC program graduates, with plans to extend access to all YLC alumni in early 2025. As of mid-August, 61% of YLC ’s spring graduates have been matched or are in the process of being matched for a board position through Board Connect.

The project was made possible by a technology grant from the Frist Foundation.

For questions about the platform, please contact YLC at boardconnect@youngleaderscouncil.org.

Alumni Spotlight (Dr. Kyla Stripling and The Well Coffeehouse)

Mar 1, 2024 | All Alumni, YLC News

Dr. Kyla Stripling, Ed.D., is the Senior Director of Strategy and Transformation for Amsurg and a graduate of the YLC 2023 Junior League of Nashville Cohort. Kyla is currently serving her YLC board internship with The Well Coffeehouse, an organization committed to Turning Coffee Into Water and focused on finding sustainable solutions to poverty. The Well Coffeehouse turns profits into hope by using its revenue to make a difference in local and global communities.

We recently caught up with Kyla, who also serves as a board member for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council, to learn more about her experience as a board internship work for The Well Coffeehouse and how it differs from the work of the for-profit board she supports.

In what ways has your YLC training helped prepare you for success as a nonprofit board member?

YLC helped hone my leadership abilities, deepen my understanding of nonprofit operations, and enhanced my community engagement skills. Through YLC, I learned valuable project and volunteer management techniques and how to foster effective teamwork and collaboration. The training emphasized adaptability, problem-solving, and reinforced a strong commitment to ethics and social responsibility as a board member. These skills are critical for navigating the challenges of nonprofit governance and help to ensure that I effectively contribute meaningfully to the organization’s mission.

You also serve as a for-profit board member for the DEI Advisory Council. How has that experience been different or similar to your experience as a nonprofit board member for The Well Coffeehouse?

Serving on a mission-driven nonprofit board differs from a for-profit company’s DEI board mainly in focus and objectives. Nonprofit boards are dedicated to advancing specific social, environmental, or humanitarian goals, measuring success by their impact and community service. In contrast, DEI boards within for-profit entities balance promoting inclusivity and equity with achieving business goals, aiming to enhance performance through diversity. Thus, the nonprofit board experience centers on mission fulfillment, while DEI board service intertwines social justice with business outcomes.

How can other YLC alumni support the mission of The Well Coffeehouse?

I encourage YLC alumni to support The Well Coffeehouse by following the organization through social media, patronizing one of its five Nashville area locations, shopping in the online store, or donating to support an upcoming water project.

Alumni Spotlight: Nikki Walker, Executive Director of the East Nashville Hope Exchange

Feb 28, 2023 | All Alumni, Nashville Alumni, YLC News

Nikki Walker photo Nikki Walker is a graduate of YLC’s Nashville Class 77 and currently serves as the Executive Director for East Nashville Hope Exchange (ENHE), an organization focused on strengthening children’s literacy through the exchange of knowledge and support among families and the Nashville community to affirm the right to read for all. YLC recently caught up with Nikki to learn more about her work and how she’s using her professional passion to make a difference in the East Nashville area.

Please tell us a little about your work with the East Nashville Hope Exchange. How did you get involved with the organization and how does the mission align with your own personal values?

In my role as Executive Director for East Nashville Hope Exchange, I am responsible for the planning, management, and direction of the organization’s operations and programs. ENHE provides programming designed to close the educational “achievement gap” between children from poorer and more affluent families. This gap has increased due to learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Youth literacy rates in the U.S. are at the lowest level in thirty years and are even worse among low-income families and especially for black and brown students.

I started working with ENHE in 2017 as a summer volunteer coordinator and, after transitioning to a new role with a different company, continued to stay engaged with the organization as a program volunteer before joining the Board. The work that I’m able to do through ENHE fuels me each day to ensure that all children have access to a good education, and I will continue advocating until access is no longer a barrier.

How did your YLC training prepare you to effectively serve as a leader in the nonprofit community? Are there elements of the program that have been particularly useful for you in your current role?

YLC provided me with a better perspective of how nonprofit boards work, and how the collective impact of the work affects the organization’s goals and outcomes. Before going through the program, I didn’t truly understand how all of that came together. Now in my current role, the most useful things learned were centered around board responsibilities, understanding the financials, and fundraising. I have learned that these are the most important things to know when leading and driving success for the organization. Gaining knowledge from YLC’s experts in these areas, really prepared me for what I am doing now.

What advice would you share with others looking to elevate their community impact by serving on a nonprofit board or becoming an executive leader for a nonprofit organization?

I would tell them to make sure that the work of the organization aligns with your passion. Truly take the time to learn about the organization, ask meaningful questions, and, if you can, go see the work in action. That will really help you decide whether that is in fact the area in which you want to serve. For those looking to become nonprofit executive leaders, it’s important to invest your time in learning the operational structure of the organization you desire to lead.

For more information on East Nashville Hope Exchange, please visit www.enhopeexchange.org or reach out to Nikki directly at nwalker@enhopeexchange.org.

Summer Alumni Spotlight

Jul 29, 2022 | All Alumni, YLC News

“Through YLC, I gained friendships, wisdom, and confidence to enter into the non-profit space with a foundational knowledge of how nonprofit boards actually work. It was great to have a new instructor provide training on a variety of content each week. I believe that anyone interested in serving a higher purpose and giving back in a meaningful way should check out the YLC program. Serving on a nonprofit board can seem overwhelming, but with training from YLC, I gained a lot of clarity on just what to expect and how to be great as I begin my new journey as a nonprofit board member.”

Shane Lantigua
Financial Advisor
Northwestern Mutual

“I loved engaging with my cohort members! YLC’s training program provides an incredible opportunity to get to know other young professionals who are just as serious about their career and giving back as I am. It was so refreshing to connect with other business professionals and identify opportunities to support each other. Since completing the program only a few months ago, I’ve already had the opportunity to do business with two members of my cohort! Through the YLC program, I gained useful soft and hard skills that I continue to use in the workplace and in other professional settings.”

Bradley Montesi
Owner / Content Producer
Unsportsmanlike Content

YLC helped me gain a newfound energy that I didn’t realize I was missing. The passion from each instructor solidified just why I joined YLC in the first place – to give back to the communities around me and to better support those in need. I learned how to leverage my current skills and relationships to help support the community and nonprofit organizations that are working to make them better.

The internship placement portion of the program has also been very beneficial for me. As a YLC board intern, I am able to engage with other board members to listen and learn how they make decisions that ultimately impact the organization overall. Another benefit from participating in YLC is learning about other non-profits that I didn’t know existed! I am so grateful for the relationships I have built with my fellow cohort members and for my newfound energy to help make an impact in my community.

Queenie Lux
Manager, Clinical Informatics Operations
HCA Healthcare

“I moved to the Nashville area in early 2020 and, due to the pandemic, was not able to fully connect with other professionals or with my new community, as I had hoped. YLC provided me with the opportunity to learn more about Nashville and meet other young professionals who share a vested interest in serving the community. I had no idea what to truly expect from YLC, but every session was amazing and helped prepare me to successfully serve on a nonprofit board. YLC provided me with a skill set and knowledge of the nonprofit sector that I otherwise would not have been afforded while also building connections so that I can have a seat at the leadership table. I was also able to develop a strong knowledge base and build a foundation to better support the nonprofit organization I am working to establish. YLC is truly life and career changing. I would encourage anyone trying to gain a greater sense of purpose through non-profit work, to consider YLC.“

Joslyn McGaughy
Owner / Area Developer
i9 Sports Nashville North

“I enjoyed YLC’s “MBA-style” learning environment where a group of professionals from various backgrounds come together to learn how to collaborate and give back to the community. Not only did I gain valuable knowledge and experience to support my desire to serve as a board leader in the nonprofit community, I also made connections with the other members of my cohort and learned more about the wonderful work happening at local organizations. YLC is the perfect segue for young professionals trying to find their way into the Nashville nonprofit leadership space. The long-term benefits of YLC begin in the classroom and continue with your ability to give back and make an impact for the community.“

Ben Maslyn, CFA
Investment Manager
Truist Wealth

“I enjoyed meeting and networking with all of my YLC cohort members. It was inspiring to see so many remarkable people who are looking to have a positive impact within the greater Nashville area. The instructors were engaging and insightful. They are also bonafide stars within the community who made the material come to life with interactive activities and real-life examples.

Besides a greater understanding of how nonprofit boards function and the overall impact these organizations have had on Middle Tennessee, I gained a sense of community. It became abundantly clear that the YLC network of alumni and friends is vast. From many of the instructors being alumni to the hundreds of fellow participants in the spring cohorts, the amount of reach that YLC has within our community is astounding. As a new graduate, I am beyond humbled to be a small part of this network of leaders.“

Chris Smith
Sr. Manager, Marketing Analytics
Asurion

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