Coming Soon!
Official launch of GK Folks Konnnect: A Mentorship & Leadership Development Program
Dr. Salisha Allard-Blaisdell has created and will spearhead this program. Dr. Allard-Blaisdell is a highly skilled Positive Youth Development (PYD) researcher with extensive experience in mentoring and leadership effectiveness. Evidence from her recent study points to the particular leadership traits affecting the resilience of under-resourced youth of Afro-descent.
Program Mission:
GK Folks Konnect Mentorship and Leadership Development program comprise of a mentorship program designed to leverage the skills and abilities of a diverse group of community leaders, and development advocates who have pledged to serve as coaches, and are committed to serving Afro youth in a diaspora. Within this program, GK Folks Achievers (the participants) are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with a coach whose values and goals are closely aligned to theirs as they set out to achieve educational and/or career goals. In addition, GK Folks Konnect consists of leadership training tailored to support organizations serving Afro-descent youth. The intent of this leadership training is to support and promote effective leadership, which, as research has shown, has a direct influence on organizational effectiveness (e.g., achieving strategic goals and objectives, promoting an enabling a thriving organizational culture, and boosting employee engagement).
Part I: Mentorship and Assimilated Training:
The first part of GK Folks Konnect program is concerned with mentorship and assimilation training. Educational and career experts from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds facilitate GK Folks Konnect Mentorship. Each Achiever will engage in cohort-based learning to develop the skills of critical thinking, articulation, and problem-solving. These career experts will challenge the Achievers' abilities to think on their feet, take risks and devise strategies to tackle real-life scenarios in a simulated environment. The Foundation will provide the Coaches with a coaching guide, including appropriate resources.
Part II: Leadership Training:
The second part of GK Folks Konnect is leadership training consultation targeting organizations serving Afro-youth. The goal is to provide organizations that support Afro-descent youth with specialized leadership tools and resources to amplify their effectiveness and goal-reaching capacity. Organizational consultation will be provided through a 6-step module as demonstrated below:
Module 1: Leadership Identity
Module 2: Organizational Identity
Module 3: Organizational Communication
Module 4: Strategic Planning and Change Management
Module 5: Leading Change
Module 6: Performance Management and Sustenance
Consultations will be delivered in a workshop/retreat format and will be spearheaded by Dr. Salisha Allard-Blaisdell most of the time. Occasionally, another skilled consultant may be invited to lead or co-facilitate a session with Dr. Allard-Blaisdell depending on the specific organizational need.
GK Folks Konnect Mentorship and Leadership Development program comprise of a mentorship program designed to leverage the skills and abilities of a diverse group of community leaders, and development advocates who have pledged to serve as coaches, and are committed to serving Afro youth in a diaspora. Within this program, GK Folks Achievers (the participants) are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with a coach whose values and goals are closely aligned to theirs as they set out to achieve educational and/or career goals. In addition, GK Folks Konnect consists of leadership training tailored to support organizations serving Afro-descent youth. The intent of this leadership training is to support and promote effective leadership, which, as research has shown, has a direct influence on organizational effectiveness (e.g., achieving strategic goals and objectives, promoting an enabling a thriving organizational culture, and boosting employee engagement).
Part I: Mentorship and Assimilated Training:
The first part of GK Folks Konnect program is concerned with mentorship and assimilation training. Educational and career experts from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds facilitate GK Folks Konnect Mentorship. Each Achiever will engage in cohort-based learning to develop the skills of critical thinking, articulation, and problem-solving. These career experts will challenge the Achievers' abilities to think on their feet, take risks and devise strategies to tackle real-life scenarios in a simulated environment. The Foundation will provide the Coaches with a coaching guide, including appropriate resources.
Part II: Leadership Training:
The second part of GK Folks Konnect is leadership training consultation targeting organizations serving Afro-youth. The goal is to provide organizations that support Afro-descent youth with specialized leadership tools and resources to amplify their effectiveness and goal-reaching capacity. Organizational consultation will be provided through a 6-step module as demonstrated below:
Module 1: Leadership Identity
- Assess leader (s) values, strengths, and purpose.
- Complete a Strategic Leadership Development Plan.
- Reflect on personal and professional strengths and growth opportunities.
Module 2: Organizational Identity
- Review and analysis of mission, vision, and objective statements.
- Explore strategy, organizational culture, climate, and organizational needs.
- Evaluate organizational approaches to leadership and management.
Module 3: Organizational Communication
- Assessing and designing Conflict Management approaches.
- Leveraging effective Decision-Making Processes.
- Sharpening Organizational Diversity Processes.
Module 4: Strategic Planning and Change Management
- Conduct Stakeholder Analysis.
- Utilize the Appreciative Inquiry model to hash out plans and programs.
- Build shared goals and strategic initiatives through a 5-year plan.
Module 5: Leading Change
- Presentation of change.
- Securing Buy-in and Sponsorship.
- Execution of change and implementation’.
Module 6: Performance Management and Sustenance
- Explore data collection and performance management tools.
- Examine data management, data analysis, and reporting techniques.
- Discuss sustainability efforts. (i.e., grant writing, other funding avenues)
Consultations will be delivered in a workshop/retreat format and will be spearheaded by Dr. Salisha Allard-Blaisdell most of the time. Occasionally, another skilled consultant may be invited to lead or co-facilitate a session with Dr. Allard-Blaisdell depending on the specific organizational need.
Help our Cause with Donations or SponsorshipOur organization can only achieve its goals with the assistance of generous donations from members of our community.
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