Leadership Fellows Program

Leadership Greater Chicago has fostered a rich diversity of Chicago area leadership since its inception in 1983. Our Leadership Fellows Program partners with business, government, professional firms, and non-profit organizations to bring leadership together to build a stronger civic community in the metropolitan Chicago area.

The Program is a unique opportunity for Chicago area leaders who have a commitment to civic and community concerns and challenges. The Program experience will:

• deepen the participant’s understanding of Greater Chicago;
• expose him/her to business, government, civic, and community leaders; and
• promote a lifelong commitment of personal leadership for the future of the Chicago area.

Importantly, the Program fosters strong relations among leaders from a variety of occupations, communities, and race and ethnicity. The relationships have proven to be immensely beneficial both to the civic well being of the Chicago area, to the participants, and to their employers or nominators.

The program brings together individuals who have demonstrated leadership or leadership potential in their careers – both professional and civic – in order to enhance the quality of civic and community leadership throughout Greater Chicago. Fellows examine issues of education, healthcare, crime and violence, economic development, community leadership, race and ethnic relations, immigration, and housing. They meet with experts and practitioners and they visit many key institutions and communities. Fellows develop an informed understanding of where and how they can direct their own civic and community leadership efforts and how their own organization can make a greater impact.