The Yesod Community Leadership Development program helps communities build their pipeline of excellent volunteer leadership. Hands-on training develops practical leadership skills. Jewish texts frame and inspire the conversation.

Bringing this program to a community is an investment in the development of individuals with leadership potential in order to build sustainable volunteer leadership as well as solid and empowering volunteer succession plans.

Who participates in the program?

Communities identify leaders or future leaders to participate in their cohort each year. As the needs of each community vary, some may create cohorts for specific leaders such as Women’s Philanthropy or Young Leadership where others may include constituent agencies, professionals or synagogue leaders. The Yesod Program can be customized to the needs of a local community.

About the Curriculum

Communities have the opportunity to select one of two available curricula. Both were written by Dr. Erica Brown and feature eight modules of instruction that focus on personal and organizational leadership skill training. Utilizing case studies and other leadership exercises, the modules are designed to give lay leaders a focused time to learn, network and be challenged in the presence of like-minded individuals who can help them reflect on their own leadership obstacles and opportunities.

• Curriculum 1, Yesod I: Jewish Leadership 2.0, features central themes about personal and organizational leadership. 
• Curriculum 2, Yesod II: Leading with Inspiration: A Jewish Approach,  features a special emphasis on communication skills. It also features new text and case studies for communities who have already taught Curriculum I and would like to provide additional learning opportunities in the same effective format.

Who teaches the Curriculum?

The instructors for Yesod Programs are referred to as facilitators, as they help to facilitate meaningful conversations that help participants create a learning community through shared language, open-ended questions, compassion and friendship.

The facilitator is selected by the community and should be someone who is knowledgeable in both Jewish texts and in leadership development and community affairs. Some facilitators may be Jewish educators working at a Federation or partner agency, or a teacher or rabbi well known in the community. Some communities use a pairing of a leadership development expert with a Jewish educator.

For more information about bringing this learning opportunity to your community, please contact us.