Leadership by Design trains and supports black students to be present and future leaders

BY PAUL JUNOR

Since the inception of the Leadership by Design (LBD) program in 2015, run by the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) it has played a pivotal role in the development of black youth leadership in the Greater Toronto Area.

According to its website at llileaders.com., Its purpose is, “To inspire and prepare our youth to be responsible leaders at all times, in all spaces, locally, and for the good of all.” In promotional material the LLI released in 2016 states that the LBD is a multi-year investment in optimizing our students’ scholastic achievements, amplifying their leadership capacity and facilitating their career ambitions. It will provide at least seven years of development support for participants scanning the high school and university and provide at least seven years of developmental support for participants spanning the high school and university years.

High-potential students are admitted in their Grade 10 year and are provided leadership development and career development throughout Grades 10, 11 and 12. These students aspire to a university education, and they continue to support their development throughout their post-secondary education up to, and including graduate studies.

The LBD program is chaired by Trevor Massey who has worked tirelessly and relentlessly to develop strategic partnerships with post-secondary institutions such as: University of Toronto, York University and Ryerson University to recruit mentors. “We need to develop a gushing pipeline of people who can take on leadership roles in our society. We have leaders but we need more and we need them in strategic positions where they can open doors for others. Leaders make things happen.

They are the ones who: define and sell a vision, assemble and motivate a team, collaboratively fashion strategy to achieve a goal and, who in the end get things done. Leaders lead change, adapt to change and they know how and when to follow. They can read a situation. Why not provide experiences and opportunities, which enhance the leadership capabilities of young people? We require one institution, one that would be endured and that would extend well past our lifetime.” These words by Trevor summarizes and capsulate the vision, mission, and passion of the committed volunteers, mentors and supporters of the LBD.

The goal of the LBD is to develop leaders and inspire leadership. It is paramount at this critical junction in the lives of blacks in the diaspora. Students that have been selected are identified as cohorts. Students that started in September 2016 were Cohort 16, and there have been five cohorts since then. They are selected from seven school boards in the Greater Toronto Area and there have been less than 200 students who are currently involved.

Students are exposed to a diverse range of opportunities that increase their social and intellectual capital. The emphasis on the importance of volunteerism and giving back has propelled many of these youth leaders to take on leadership opportunities both within and outside the school communities. Currently, students learn about: coding, STEM, AI, entrepreneurship, law, and digital marketing. There is a Study Buddy Tutoring Program in place administered by the Diversity of Ryerson University with a mentoring component

There will be three leadership scholarships offered to graduating Grade 12 students in 2021. Any parents or guardians who have children who are in Grade 9 academic and going in Grade 10 can check the website llileaders.com