Programs

The Fellows program is a 12-month engagement designed to empower emerging leaders through curriculum focused on cultivating skills, empowering action, connecting with established community leaders, and linking the Fellows to needs in the community. Classes are kept intentionally small (25-30) to encourage self-exploration and team building. 

The Fellows program curriculum includes 2 primary phases – personal leadership development and community action.

Personal Leadership Development:

• Foundations of Leadership – This 2-day seminar is designed in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership. We use self-assessment tools to teach participants to leverage their personal leadership assets, overcome barriers to success and identify key areas of growth for the coming year.
• Memphis 101 – In-depth community awareness comes from this provocative crash course in what made Memphis the city it is today and how its history, culture, people and politics impact where we are going. Memphis 101 is developed and owned by archer>malmo and is licensed to the Academy on an exclusive basis.
• Skills Workshops – This series of four workshops hones the Fellows’ skills related to Communications, Inclusion, decision Making and Fundraising. 
• “Real Deal” Sessions – Learn how to get things done in Memphis through this 2-part seminar. These seminars teach Fellows how to understand and navigate the local political environment and how to work effectively with and within non-profits. 
• Team Trek – Solidify your relationship with a diverse network of remarkable peers at this team building retreat testing your leadership skills in a variety of outdoor adventures. Team Trek is consistently rated one of the best experiences of the Fellows’ year.

Community Action:

• Community Action Project – Fellows put their newly developed leadership skills into action through a Community Action Project (CAP). 
• Community Action Project (CAP) Design – The planning and design process of the Community Action Project comes early in the program through a series of events including the CAP Kick-Off, Peer Exchange, CAP Consultation and Review Boards. Seasoned community leaders mentor the Fellows throughout this process at these events and one-on-one. 
• Community Action Project Implementation – The Fellows implement the CAP as defined in collaboration with a non-profit CAP host during the final six months of their Fellows engagement.

There are currently more than 90 CAPs transforming Memphis.  To learn more about the CAP, click here.