United Way of Henderson County is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 Rising Leaders Program.
This year-long program is designed to prepare young professionals for leadership roles in local nonprofits. The goal of the program is to educate the next generation of community leaders and give them the tools and connections to become key volunteers with UWHC partner agencies and other nonprofits.
Thanks to sponsorship from Friday Staffing, the Rising Leaders Program is free of charge for all participants. Space is limited to 20 participants.
Participants will commit to attending an introductory session Sept. 15, as well as five of six informational sessions that will be at lunchtime throughout the year.
These interactive sessions will cover the fundamentals of board service and nonprofit management, and the essential knowledge and skills agency directors would like to see in their prospective board members.
Participants must complete at least 10 hours of community service in the county between September 2012 and June 2013.
"We have heard very positive feedback from local nonprofit agencies and from the graduates of our 2011-12 Pilot Program," said Graham Fields, UWHC Board member and chair of the Rising Leaders Committee.
"This program is filling an important need in Henderson County. Young professionals in other communities pay a great deal of money for opportunities like the Rising Leaders Program, so the fact that we can offer such a high quality training and access to so many non-profit leaders for free is outstanding."
UWHC will make every effort to match program graduates with an appropriate long-term volunteer position at a local health and human service nonprofit agency. However, completion of the Rising Leaders Program will not guarantee placement on a board of directors.
A program outline and application can be found at www.liveunitedhc.org/rising-leaders.html. Applications can be submitted to skowalak@liveunitedhc.org. Anyone with questions about the program should email or call 828-692-1636.