Courses

7 lessons

Intermediate

Empoderate Leadership Academy - Course Summary and Rationale
The Empoderate Leadership Academy is a dynamic leadership development program designed to empower community college students in Central Texas, with a focus on cultivating the next generation of leaders across various sectors. This program aims to inspire students to develop leadership skills, increase self-confidence, and create positive change within their communities while navigating academic and professional challenges. Through a combination of workshops, mentorship, internships, and community engagement, students will be equipped to take on leadership roles in education, government, business, and non-profits.

As part of the Catch the Next (CTN) organization’s mission to enhance educational attainment among underserved students, the Leadership Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum centered around the unique cultural strengths and experiences of these students. By incorporating Yosso’s cultural wealth model, the academy recognizes and values the diverse forms of capital that students bring to their education, such as familial, social, linguistic, and resistance-based strengths. The program also focuses on essential leadership competencies, including emotional intelligence, effective communication, strategic thinking, and navigating the complexities of higher education.

Students will also have the opportunity to intern with community organizations and non-profits, providing real-world experience in governance, communications, and advocacy, and contributing to the development of the leadership curriculum itself.

Learning Objectives:
Cultural Wealth Awareness: Students will recognize and appreciate the cultural strengths and experiences they bring to their academic journey through workshops focused on the six forms of cultural capital.

Leadership Awareness: Students will understand the importance of leadership within the broader context of demographic trends and sectoral representation.

Leadership Styles: Students will learn to identify different leadership styles and evaluate how they can combine them for more effective leadership.

College Navigation: Students will develop strategies for balancing academic responsibilities, leadership development, and personal well-being while navigating the challenges of community college.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Students will increase their ability to manage their emotions and use emotional intelligence to enhance their leadership capabilities.

Public Speaking & Communication Skills: Students will gain confidence in public speaking and written communication, crucial skills for leadership.

Internship Opportunities: Students will gain hands-on experience in not-for-profit organizations, enhancing their skills in communications, advocacy, governance, and policy development.

Mentorship: Upper-level students will mentor incoming cohorts, fostering peer leadership and community-building within the program.

Curriculum Development: Students will actively contribute to refining and expanding the leadership curriculum, creating a blueprint for future generations.

Rationale:
This program is designed to address the underrepresentation in leadership roles by building a pipeline of future leaders who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take on critical roles in society. Given that 55% of underserved students in Texas enroll in community colleges and many face significant barriers to completion, the Empoderate Leadership Academy seeks to close the opportunity gap by focusing on both academic success and leadership development. The program emphasizes the cultivation of leadership from within, recognizing that leadership can be nurtured through community engagement, skill-building, and personal growth, empowering students to envision and pursue impactful careers.

Program Evaluation:
CTN will track program success through both quantitative and qualitative measures, including participation rates, student engagement, emotional intelligence assessments, internship involvement, and leadership outcomes. Continuous feedback will be used to refine the curriculum and ensure that it meets the evolving needs of students.

By the end of the program, students will have developed both the hard and soft skills necessary for leadership, equipped with the emotional intelligence, academic tools, and community support to succeed in their careers and make a lasting impact in their communities.

7 lessons

Intermediate

Through this course, our goal is to create a “learning community” of faculty, scholars, advisors and administrators. These individuals are drawn from a variety of departments, so they mirror, in many respects, a typical classroom of first-year college students who may or may not know each other before they enter the training. 

7 lessons

Intermediate

Through this course, our goal is to create a “learning community” of faculty, scholars, advisors and administrators. These individuals are drawn from a variety of departments, so they mirror, in many respects, a typical classroom of first-year college students who may or may not know each other before they enter the training.