Building Leaders of Color for Systems Change: Recommendations for Change Network Minnesota

Abstract

The Change Network Minnesota is a multicultural leadership program focused on providing individual leaders the tools to be systems change agents in their respective field. Currently in its development stage, facilitators of this new initiative sought curriculum recommendations to serve mid-career professionals from multidiscipline, multicultural backgrounds. To serve the emerging needs of the Change Network Minnesota, and assess the desired skills and needs of diverse applicants, a capstone team out of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs researched what factors mid-career professionals of color need to thrive as leaders. To examine this question, a review of literature was conducted and a survey of mid-career professionals of color was administered and assessed. A total of 88 individuals responded to the survey, primarily from the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Our findings highlight a number of external, structural barriers that limit mid-career professionals of color the potential to thrive as leaders. Our recommendation to the Change Network Minnesota is to focus content on building the technical skills of leaders of color. To advance systems change, the Network should also provide opportunities for participants of color to foster authentic peer relationships. In addition, equity and inclusion should be imbedded throughout the program, lifting up the narrative and perspective of communities of color while equipping professionals of color to be systems change agents.