Feb. 4, 2013 - The N.C. Community Development Initiative provided five scholarships for partner organizations to attend the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development’s Women’s Executive Education Leadership Series Feb. 1-2.
The intensive leadership and management program prepares women executives to implement the winning strategies, organizational changes and financing options needed to position their organizations for explosive growth in the marketplace. Participants gain insight and tools that help them return to their organizations energized and ready to tackle a broad array of challenges.
“One goal of our technical assistance program is to provide our partner organizations with access to valuable training opportunities,” said LaVett Saddler, the Initiative’s program officer for innovations, who directs the program. “The Women’s Executive Education Leadership Series encourages innovation and partnerships, which are important strategies for community economic development organizations who seek to increase their impact.”
The Initiative awarded scholarships to executive directors at five of its partner organizations, including:
- Delores Bailey, EmPOWERment Inc., Chapel Hill
- Gayle Fernandez, Robeson County Community Development Corp., Pembroke
- Antionette Kerr, Lexington Housing Community Development Corp., Lexington
- Gwynne Rukenbrod, HandMade in America, Asheville
- Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, Eagle Market Streets Development Corp., Asheville
The five Initiative participants were able to work together to develop a technology plan for Eagle Market Streets Development Corp. that included improvements to the group’s Facebook page and website, Swepson-Twitty said. EMSDC was able to make those improvements and is committed to keeping in contact with the other Initiative participants to provide support.
“It was great to be able to apply what we were learning to each other and our situations,” Bailey said. “I liked that we had the freedom to talk, work together and problem solve. It was wonderful, I’m so glad I went.”
The Women’s Executive Education Leadership Series is produced by the Institute, Center for Creative Leadership Women’s Business Center of NC, Institute of Women’s Leadership at Meredith College and Bennett College for Women.
For more information on the Institute’s Women’s Executive Education Leadership Series, visit www.ncimed.com.
For more information on the Initiative’s technical assistance program, contact Saddler at (919) 835-6015 or lsaddler@ncinitiative.org, or visit www.ncinitiative.org/innovation/technicalassistance.
The N.C. Community Development Initiative leads North Carolina’s collaborative community economic development effort, driving innovation, investment and action to create prosperous, sustainable communities. For more information, visit www.ncinitiative.org.