2022 National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program - Apply Now

By National Urban League
Published05 PM EDT, Thu Sep 19, 2024
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The National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program is a competitive professional development opportunity. The program provides a unique chance to develop analytical and critical leadership skills for those interested in senior staff roles or strategic governance roles in the non-profit sector. 

Participants in the program will attend a series of virtual sessions over a multi-month period. These sessions will expose participants to the League’s Leadership Model competencies and link classroom learning with real-time activities.

We plan to identify individuals who demonstrate leadership potential. Ideally, those interested in applying to become program participants are required to have:

  • A Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Degree Preferred) in Business Administration; Social Work; Public Administration; or an appropriate discipline 7-10 years of work experience
  • At least five years of management experience
  • A proven track record of leadership 
  • An interest in the non-profit/community leadership
  • Aspirations to fill executive positions or critical volunteer leadership roles

Demonstrated success in several of the following areas:

  • Fiscal management
  • Strategic planning
  • Board and volunteer relations
  • Community mobilization, collaboration or leadership
  • Human capital management
  • Advocacy
  • Policy development
  • Fundraising with public and private sectors
  • Public and community education

Application Process

Write an essay that evidences your perspective on the quote below and how it relates to your desire to develop as a leader. Your submission should be no more than two pages double-spaced in 12-point font and PDF format.  

“I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment, I was an effective voice of the voiceless, an effective hope for the hopeless.”

 – Whitney M. Young, Jr.

Video Submission

In addition to your essay, please use the questions below as a guide for your video submission. Your video should not exceed a maximum of three minutes. If your video is more than 5G, please upload a link to the video.

Please submit your video/link to recruitment1@nul.org

  • Formal editing is not allowed. You may create your video via cell phone, computer, or tablet. Regardless of the mode you choose, present your video in landscape format.
  • When answering the questions, please physically appear in the video and do not include any group images in your video.
  • The following video formats will be accepted: WMV, MOV, MP4, FLV, MPEG, MPG

             All four questions below must be answered within your video submission.

             (We suggest practicing your answers before recording).

Question 1: Why do you want to be part of the Emerging Leaders Program, and what do you hope to get out of participating in the program?

Question 2: Describe your present duties, responsibilities, and future aspiration in the non-profit sector or the Urban League.

Question 3: tell us something about the Urban league that you would like to contribute to or be a part of, and why?

Question 4: In what ways do you believe that this program can be most useful for you?

Two Letters of recommendation

Ensure both your letters of recommendation are from individuals who can speak to your specific accomplishments and experiences. They should know how your leadership abilities relate to the non-profit sector. If possible, a letter from an Urban League CEO, an Urban League Senior Affiliate Executive, or Emerging Leader Alumni is preferred.

  • Your letters must both be in PDF format and submitted online
  • Resume – in PDF format
  • Signature – Please electronically sign the application to ensure authenticity.

Deadline: January 17, 2022

Click here to apply and upload all required documents: https://bit.ly/2022EmergingLeaders