LEADeres: Designing a Latinx-Centric Leadership Program

According to the recent study “New Americans in Kent County”, commissioned by the New American Economy, the top two countries of origin for immigrants living in Kent Co. account for one-third of the entire immigrant population :Mexico and Guatemala. The same study reveals that, close to 50% of all immigrants work in the “backbone industries” (New American Economy, 2018). Latinx immigrants in West Michigan are the backbone of this community. However, representation is limited when it comes to higher levels of decision-making positions, even when more Latinx students are graduating from college than ever before. Further, some highly educated and prepared Latinx professionals lag behind when it comes to promotions in the workplace. In 2013, a group of Latinx professionals designed what would be the first Latinx-centric leadership program in West Michigan with the goal of increasing Latinx representation at higher-level positions in the corporate and non-profit sectors. To date, over 150 individuals have graduated from the program and this program itself has adapted to the times and needs of the community. Leaders in the for-profit and not- for-profit organizations recognized the value of the program by enrolling its Latinx staff in the program and financing the registration fees. The program has been financially supported by both the corporate and philanthropic sectors which have recognized and endorsed additional Latinx representation. The work is far from done. In this document my intention is to record the design of the curriculum, from ideation to development, its failures and successes, its highs and lows. I offer this document as a starting point for a future visionary who might develop the program into a much grander design of something better and which will address the societal issue of Latinx representation in decision-making spaces.