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# Leadership Foundations

We change cities for the better

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## Posts

- [Street Lights](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/street-lights/) - STREET LIGHTS Celebrating Signs of Light in Cities Throughout the World Trending Today My Town Miracles: Memphians Want to Serve Women Leading Communities with Courage and Care A New Generation is Rising in 11 Cities Creating the Spaces He Once Needed Keeping the Door Open: Building Sturdy Bridges Between Families and Mentors Consistent family engagement
- [My Town Miracles: Memphians Want to Serve](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/my-town-miracles-memphians-want-to-serve/) - Daily Miracles in the Heart of Memphis Rooted in the extraordinary power of God displayed in Acts 19:11, My Town Miracles (MTM) is more than a movement - it is a community of families, partners, volunteers, and believers who trust that God also works in powerful ways in the present and future. MTM is committed
- [Women Leading Communities with Courage and Care](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/women-leading-communities-with-courage-and-care/) - Kelcie Shack Program Director, Red Door - Jackson, MS Kelcie Slack didn't plan to work in nonprofit leadership. 10 years ago, she was pregnant with her second daughter when she interviewed for a site coordinator role at Red Door. While she had no formal nonprofit background, she did have vision. "I fell in love with
- [A New Generation is Rising in 11 Cities](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/a-new-generation-is-rising-in-11-cities/) - There’s a vision that guides Leadership Foundations. It comes from the prophet Zechariah, a picture of a city restored. Elders sitting peacefully amongst one another, children playing freely in the open squares: a city marked less by the gaps of inequity and depravity, and one that becomes a playground. Cities do not become places of peace
- [Creating the Spaces He Once Needed](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/creating-the-spaces-he-once-needed/) - Randy Mason’s Story at Thrive Collective, Leadership Foundations’ Mentoring Partner in New York City When Randy Mason talks about music, he talks about possibility. Raised in the Bronx, his first encounter with professional music in an elementary school gym planted a seed that would later grow into a life dedicated to arts, mentorship, and leadership development. Today, through Thrive Collective, Leadership Foundations'
- [Learning to Lead By Example: Meet TJ & Dylan](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/learning-to-lead-by-example-meet-tj-dylan/) - Ten-year-old TJ hums softly as he balances his baby sister on his lap, then helps his grandmother settle into her favorite chair. “He’s my heart,” she says, smiling. When TJ’s father went to prison, his grandmother worried about how he would grow up without a positive male role model. “I wanted him to have someone
- [Keeping the Door Open: Building Sturdy Bridges Between Families and Mentors](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/keeping-the-door-open-building-sturdy-bridges-between-families-and-mentors/) - Consistent family engagement is a vital thread in the fabric of strong mentoring relationships. For our network, building sustainable relationships between a youth and mentor is about going through and developing real levels of trust, showing up again and again, and inviting families to be fully part of the journey. Parents, caregivers, mentors, young people,
- [Families at the Center: The Power of Partnership in Mentoring](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/families-at-the-center-the-power-of-partnership-in-mentoring/) - When Families Are Involved At Leadership Foundations, we believe no one walks alone, and that especially goes for the young people in our Mentoring Youth for Leadership (MYL) network. Mentoring is at the heart of what we do and matters because it helps young people see their full potential—not just in themselves, but in the
- [New Partnership Launches Next Generation Leaders in Cities](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/new-partnership-launches-next-generation-leaders-in-cities/) - Leadership Foundations (LF) is grateful to announce that it has received a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish The Barnabas Project (TBP). TBP is a new Fellowship program for young adults, designed to build civic leaders who desire a mature and reflective faith and models who demonstrate how to care for
- [Layla & Sienna's Story of Breakthrough](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/layla-siennas-story-of-breakthrough/)
- [Discovering Our Calling: Going to the Root of Strategic Planning](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/discovering-our-calling-going-to-the-root-of-strategic-planning/) - Hello Friends, If you've seen or had the chance to read through our most recent 2024 issue magazine, you will recognize this inspirational story from The Root Cellar! As an LLF President, I have come to admire the care and thoughtful approach of the LF Global Office as they seek to understand the nuance and
- [From Charity To Change](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/community/from-charity-to-change/) - "It’s one thing to give a kid a backpack at the beginning of the school year,” said Chris Woolard (pictured above), pastor of Venture Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. “It’s another thing to teach that kid how to read.” Woolard planted his church, Venture, 10 years ago with the intention of reaching people who are
- [2024 Leadership Report Magazine](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/2024-leadership-report-magazine/) - Building the Capacity of Others- Issue 2 of The Leadership Report Leadership Foundations exists to drive change in cities around the world. One of the three functions of the organization which drives that change is to build the capacity of others. In this issue, we explore examples of what this capacity-building looks like in different
- [Friends, Meet Basile!](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/friends-meet-basile/) - Friends, meet Basile Businge whose warm aura can be felt while working the espresso machine at The Root Cellar's kitchen in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesdays. Smiling as he serves up delicious lattes, it's safe to assume that he has been enjoying the opportunity to work in the Common Grounds Cafe. Basile Businge arrived in the
- [Love Week](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/love-week/) - Dear Friends, For the week leading up to Valentines' Day, we shared stories that demonstrate love from the Leadership Foundations' network for a series named, "Love Week". Each story has inspired us to reflect on a piece of scripture and God's love that changes lives. Below are the compiled stories and scriptures for your enjoyment.
- [Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men A letter to Our Friends](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/community/a-letter-to-our-friends-to-end-the-year/) - “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.” Luke 2:14 November 24, 2023 Dear Friend, The angels proclaimed to the world that peace had come. No longer would we to be strangers to God, but, through that little baby in a manger, we would be reconciled and be at peace with Him. Since I started my work
- [A Letter to Our Friends](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/a-letter-to-our-friends/) - Donate
- [Be a Mentor](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/be-a-mentor/) - Around the world Leadership Foundations' is changing the lives of more than 36,000 children through mentorship. Among them are many stories of hope and transformation that have stopped us in our tracks and inspired us. Meet one inspirational pair, Ken and Gus! "This was during lockdown life, when everyone said virtual mentoring wouldn’t work,” remembers
- [Can Anything Good Come From Kibra?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/can-anything-good-come-from-kibra/) - “If you are a stranger, Nairobi is a city that will welcome you,” said Gideon Ochieng, the Executive Director of the Center for Transforming Mission (CTM) Kenya. “Here, we will still stop and help a stranger.” In Kenya’s capital city of five million people, Ochieng’s work at CTM (the local Leadership Foundation) is focused on
- [Introducing The First Issue of The Leadership Report!](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/introducing-the-first-issue-of-the-leadership-report/) - Hello friends! Welcome to our inaugural issue of The Leadership Report! Leadership Foundations serves and operates in over 40 cities throughout the world, bringing about real and lasting change. And we are happy that we can share glimpses of that to you through the pages of this new publication. We hope you feel enlightened and
- [The Remarkable Shape of God's Grace in Lewiston & Portland, Maine](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/community/the-remarkable-shape-of-gods-grace-in-lewiston-portland-maine/) - A group of LF staff recently had the great opportunity to visit our local Leadership Foundation in Maine, The Root Cellar for its LF accreditation visit. With deep roots that stretch back to 1984, The Root Cellar is driving the Wheel of Change in some remarkable ways in both Lewiston and Portland, ME. With old New England mill and
- [The Leadership Foundations Network is Growing Across the Globe](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-leadership-foundations-network-is-growing-across-the-globe/) - Across the world, many new expressions of Leadership Foundations are emerging!Individuals and organizations in cities as diverse at Guatemala City, Guatemala; Jaipur, India; and Louisville, Kentucky are in the process of becoming affiliates of the global Leadership Foundations network.Most recently, September 26-30, leaders from 11 total organizations gathered virtually for a week to walk through LF’s
- [Contemplation and Action](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/contemplation-and-action/) - In this episode, Dan Cardinali, President/CEO of Independent Sector, joins us to explore how a posture of contemplation and action can meaningfully contribute to human flourishing in our urban world.
- [Leadership Foundations' 2021 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/leadership-foundations-2021-annual-report/) - Dear Friends, We’re proud to share with you the remarkable work taking place across the Leadership Foundations (LF) network. Our task- loving our world’s cities into places where the most vulnerable can flourish- is one of immense importance. Thank you for your investment in this vital work; it is not possible without you. As we
- [White House Champions The L.A. Leadership Foundation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/white-house-champions-lf/) - For more than 30 years, Champions in Service, Leadership Foundation of Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, have been working to make their city a safer, more vibrant place. That means they've been willing to hang out in places and with people that others would count as a lost cause - the neighborhoods
- [A City As Famous For God As It Is For Steel](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/elementor-10679/) - Pittsburgh Prays Event Draws Over 15,000 people
- [Welcome Albuquerque, Detroit & Northeast Ohio](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/welcome-to-the-network/) - Our Global Network is Growing.
- [Fresno's "SparkTank" Sparks Change](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/fresnos-sparktank-sparks-change/) - The Center for Community Transformation, Leadership Foundation of Fresno, believes that enterprise can be the spark for widespread social change for their city and county. On June 16th, 2022 they held their ninth annual SparkTank event, a pitch fest where local microbusiness and social entrepreneurs competed to receive $25,000 in start-up capital. This year over
- [The Street & The Academy](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-street-the-academy/) - Cities, by their very nature, point us to the contradictions and paradoxes that are an inseparable aspect of our world. To love cities – as the Leadership Foundations global network seeks to embody – is to embrace these contradictions. Join us in this episode where we explore the contradiction and tension between two sources of authority
- [From Fear to Flourishing](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/from-fear-to-flourishing/) - A Mentor Impact Story Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jorden faced challenges that most of us can’t even begin to imagine. Having been evicted when he was only 8 years old, Jorden’s family was forced to move to a shelter. On top of that, Jorden was bullied in school, called names, and pressured into acts
- [Announcing Our New President, Larry Lloyd](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/new-president/) - The Board of Directors of the Leadership Foundations’ Global Office is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Larry Lloyd as its third president. As the Board of Directors began seeking a new president as part of the succession process, it became clear that the organization had the leader it needs for such a time as
- [LF Mentoring Featured by US Department of Justice](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/lf-substance-of-change-project/) - We were honored that the The Leadership Foundations Mentoring Network was recently featured by the US Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Co-authored by LF Director of Global Advancement Noah Baskett and Janis Kupersmidt, President, of LF partner Innovation, Research, and Training, the article shared our innovative training developed during the
- [The Bible and the Newspaper: an introduction](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-bible-and-the-newspaper/) - How do we navigate today’s urban world – holding the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other? How do we navigate the tension of contemplation and action, street and the academy in our active engagement in the city?Join us for this new City as Playground series as we’ll be exploring these tensions
- [Passing the Baton - Presidential Succession](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/passing-the-baton-2/) - Rev. Dr. Larry Lloyd to succeed Dr. Dave Hillis as third President of the Leadership Foundations' global office
- [Unleashing the Church in Chattanooga through Collaboration](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/unleashing-the-church-in-chattanooga/) - Chattanooga Leadership Foundation, Kingdom Partners, Aligns With Community Partners To Launch Mentoring Collective Leadership Foundations is pleased to report how our Charity to Change initiative is already helping to unleash and unlock the resources of local churches working together to bring about change in their city. Launched in the fall of 2021, Charity to Change
- [Non-reactive Leadership Comment Article](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/non-reactive-leadership-comment-article/) - Lessons from Rene Girard and St. Ignatius of Loyola
- [Praying with Poetry, Redux](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/praying-with-poetry-redux/) - G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The reason we fly from the city is not in reality that it is not poetical; it is that its poetry is too fierce, too fascinating and too practical in its demands.”*In this 2021 finale podcast episode, we welcome back Fr. Steve Lantry, SJ for a special Advent/Christmas “Praying with Poetry”
- [Can You Imagine a Playground? - The Canvas that is NYC](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/can-you-imagine-a-playground-the-canvas-that-is-nyc/) - Can you see a playground amidst the countless smells, sights, and sounds of New York City? Jeremy Del Rio, Executive Director of Thrive Collective, Leadership Foundation of NYC, joins us to describe how this vision of the City as a Playground is coming to life in the City that Never Sleeps.He discusses the many ways in
- [Can You Imagine a Playground? - A Just City](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/can-you-imagine-a-playground-a-just-city/) - Can you imagine a city that is just? A city where everyone – regardless of background, birth family, race, or creed – receives what they need to fully thrive as human beings…Justin Beene, President of the Leadership Foundation of Grand Rapids, Center for Community Transformation (GRCCT), joins us to explore the shape of God’s justice
- [Can You Imagine a Playground? - Courageous Leadership](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/can-you-imagine-a-playground-courageous-leadership/) - At the center of transformation in our world’s cities is leadership – women and men who deeply love their city and are committed to it becoming more like a playground. Join us as Melody Rodriguez and Alma Vargas from Proyecto Mole in Tacoma, Washington talk about developing young people as leaders who are equipped to love and transform
- [Can You Imagine a Playground?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/can-you-imagine-a-playground/) - In this year-end series of 2021, we’re returning to our roots, letting our imagination guide us as we explore more deeply the animating metaphor of Leadership Foundations: our world’s cities as playgrounds.Join us as we hear from LF leaders from various cities as they imagine their own city as a playground, a place where vulnerable
- [Imagining Abundance in Philippi, West Virginia](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/imagining-abundance-in-phillipi-west-virginia/) - The story of West Virginia is one often told only describing its entrenched poverty, widespread opioid use, and coal -dependent economy. Ruston Seaman, president of New Vision, Leadership Foundation of Philippi, West Virginia tells us a different story. Join us as Ruston describes his community through the lens of God’s abundance, seeing it filled with
- [Imagining Abundance: Conversation To Be Continued](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/imagining-abundance-conversation-to-be-continued/) - Can you imagine God’s economy of abundance even in places where resources appear so scarce? Can you see it?Join us as we wrap up this City as Playground podcast series, Imagining Abundance, recapping our conversations of seeing abundance throughout the Leadership Foundations network in Bloemfontein, South Africa; Fresno, California; and Philippi, West Virginia. Subscribe
- [Leadership Foundations 2020 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/leadership-foundations-2020-annual-report/) - Thanks to you support, to date and through our 40+ affiliates, you have helped activate $11.4 million, provide 3,005 volunteers, and offer 2,689,586 meals and $485,660 worth of emergency supplies. A startling and stunning display of ingenuity and generosity that addresses these deep inequalities.
- [Imagining Abundance: Reimagining the Local Economy in Fresno](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/reimagining-fresnos-economy/) - In Fresno, the Center for Community Transformation Leadership Foundation is reimagining the local economy in light of God’s abundance. An economy where the city is full of practicing and prospective entrepreneurs starting and sustaining small businesses of every shape… A local economy nourished by a vision of God’s economy – one where there is enough
- [2019 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/2019-lf-annual-report/) - Leadership Foundations Annual Report, 2019
- [Traditioned Innovation: An Invitation into Brave Space](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/brave-space/) - What if instead of seeking safe spaces, we worked to create brave spaces, spaces where we could bring our deepest selves, our deepest vulnerabilities to the table in a way that might make real transformation possible? Rev. Jen Bailey, founder of the Faith Matters Network joins us to explore the possibility of building trust across our
- [The Outsized Impact of Faith-Based Non-Profits in the Social Sector](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/the-outsized-impact-of-faith-based-non-profits-in-the-social-sector/) - On Wednesday, May 26, we launched the newest Leadership Foundations Town Hall series, "Imagining Abundance". For the next 6 weeks, we will be examining the transformational idea of God’s deep abundance present in our world.
- [Leadership Foundations Awarded $1 Million Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/leadership-foundations-awarded-1-million-grant/) - For Immediate Release: October 19, 2020 Leadership Foundations (LF) is pleased to announce its receipt of a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand its Charity to Change initiative. This grant to Leadership Foundations is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to strengthen Christian congregations
- [Imagining Abundance in Bloemfontein, South Africa](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/south-africa-abundance/) - Homelessness, prostitution, government corruption.Amidst some of these dire circumstances in South Africa, only exacerbated by COVID-19, the Towers of Hope Leadership Foundation is living into God’s economy of Abundance. Learn how they are imagining abundance in their city – where the most impoverished receive all that they need to lead flourishing lives of promise.
- [Imagining Abundance: An Introduction](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/imagining-abundance-an-introduction/) - Can you imagine our world’s cities as places of abundance? Places where God’s excessive love for God’s children is on full display? Where everyone, including the most vulnerable, receive all that they need to lead lives full of promise?Join us this series as we explore what God’s invitation of moving from scarcity to abundance might
- [Mobilizing to Take on Jackson's Water Crisis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/mobilizing-to-take-on-jacksons-water-crisis/) - If you asked residents, community leaders, and the local government of Jackson, Mississippi what the greatest needs in the city are, one issue would surface over and over again: clean water. Sam Bolen, the President of the Jackson Leadership Foundation (JLF) did just this on a listening tour of the city. It was clear the need to repair the
- [25 years of Bringing Salem Communities Together](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/25-years-of-bringing-salem-communities-together/) - At the heart of Leadership Foundations is a simple and earnest belief that community transformation begins with people of good faith and goodwill coming together to make their city a better place. Sam Skillern has embodied this vision throughout the last 25 years of his career, joining leaders and building community in Salem, Oregon. His work has connected leaders in faith, education, and
- [Imagining Abundance: From Transactional to Transformational Relationships with Foundations](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/imagining-abundance-from-transactional-to-transformational-relationships-with-foundations/) - Tomi Hiers from the Annie E Casey Foundation shares how they are thinking with an abundance mindset
- [Traditioned Innovation: Wrapping Up the Conversation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/traditioned-innovation-wrapping-up-the-conversation/) - How can people of faith and good will work together to innovate in our cities by drawing from our rich faith traditions? What might it look like to come alongside God’s creative spirit already at work in our world’s cities? Join cohost Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations President Dave Hillis review the territory of this
- [LFLC Member Highlight: Rev. Jean Milliken](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/community/lflc-member-highlight-rev-jean-milliken/) - I consider it a great joy to serve as the co-chair of Leadership Foundations’ Leadership Council, and am grateful to serve alongside my fellow co-chair and LF board member Nate Skow. My work – in addition to being my husband Bill’s marriage partner for almost 56 years, creating and maintaining our home, and being the
- [Investing in Fathers, Changing Communities](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/investing-in-fathers-changing-communities/) - This weekend many of us took time to celebrate the fathers that have made a difference in our lives. Be it a life lesson, time spent together, or even the occasional “dad joke,” fathers make a tremendous impact in our lives. At the same time, Father’s Day can be a difficult time for many. Whether
- [E-sports' Unlikely Role in Turning Battlegrounds into Playgrounds](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/community-transformation-in-the-heart-of-appalachia/) - What do solar panels, e-sports, and telehealth all have in common? At the community center in Chestnut Ridge, The Epicenter, they all play a role in revitalizing the health and vibrancy of Philippi, WV. Located in the heart of Appalachia, Barbour County is in northern West Virginia. Philippi has been hit hard by the opioid
- [Town Hall: Abundance, Economics and Generosity](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/town-hall-abundance-economics-and-generosity/) - Imagining Abundance with Dr. Dave Odom of Duke Divinity School
- [Neighbors as Collaborators Instead of Competitors: Town Hall with Evan Feinberg](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/neighbors-as-collaborators-instead-of-competitors-town-hall-with-evan-feinberg/) - Evan Feinberg joins the Town Hall to share how Stand Together is thinking about Abundance
- [Imagining Abundance: Neighborliness and friendships born for the day of adversity](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/imagining-abundance-neighborliness-and-friendships-born-for-the-day-of-adversity/) - Chuck Bentley and Tom Gaydos join the LF Town Hall
- [Imagining Abundance with Kerry Alys Robinson](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/imagining-abundance-with-kerry-alys-robinson/) - We were excited to continue our conversation on “Imagining Abundance” and had the great fortune of being joined by Kerry Alys Robinson, from whose book we borrowed the name of this series. Kerry was the founding executive director of Leadership Roundtable and is the author of “Imagining Abundance: Fundraising, Philanthropy and a Spiritual Call to Service”. Dave and
- [Love & Basketball: Transformation in Nairobi, Kenya](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/love_and_basketball-nairobi-kenya/) - The Nairobi Leadership Foundation is transforming one of the world’s largest informal settlements, Kibra, through the power of relationships. In this podcast episode of the Traditioned Innovation series, Executive Director Gideon Ochieng describes how they’re using basketball courts to bring people together in Nairobi – and empower young people as future leaders! Subscribe
- [To Bear Witness](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/to-bear-witness/) - I’ve been thinking about the word witness this week – it came up in light of the recent trial in Minneapolis and the difficult and brave testimony that was given by those who witnessed the killing of George Floyd. I’ve also been thinking about witness amidst the tragic impact of the COVID-19 virus in India
- [LFLC Member Highlight: H Spees](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/community/lflc-member-highlight-h-spees/) - It is both a privilege and honor to continue to serve LF through the Leadership Council. I deeply believe in the work of the network. And I am truly convinced that cities are healed--both spiritually and socially--through the power of relationships. I began my LF journey several decades ago to help found and serve as
- [Welcome Chattanooga and New York City](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/welcome-chattanooga-and-new-york-city/) - The Leadership Foundations network fuels transformation in cities around the world through deep and lasting relationships. Our growing global network works in cities around the world in places as diverse as Delhi, India and Dallas, Texas. And now Chattanooga, TN and New York City, NY! We are so excited to welcome Kingdom Partners and
- [Traditioned Innovation: Learning To Pray](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/traditioned-innovation-learning-to-pray/) - Is prayer still relevant today, in our post-modern 21st century urban world? Does our 2,000+ year-old faith tradition have anything to teach us about praying today?Acclaimed author and public figure Fr. James Martin, SJ joins us to discuss Ignatius of Loyola, our bustling cities, and his recently published book, Learning to Pray: A Guide For
- [Seeing the Playground - Basketball in Kenya's Largest Informal Settlement](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/seeing-the-playground-basketball-in-kenyas-largest-informal-settlement/) - Seeing the Playground in an Unlikely Place In 2019, Leadership Foundations partnered with the Nairobi Leadership Foundation to launch a youth mentoring program in the heart of the world's largest slum, Kibra. Working with local business and school partners to build 5 basketball courts, the Nairobi Leadership Foundation is using sports and the power of
- [Transforming Prisons from the Inside Out](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/upside-down-hospitality-prison-reform/) - How does reform really happen? We continue our conversation from last episode with Dr. Richard Beck, exploring the prison ministry and reform work of three Local Leadership Foundations – Next Chapter: The LF of Rochester, MN, the Memphis Leadership Foundation, and the Dallas Leadership Foundation. What emerges, is the incredibly surprising way in which God’s invitation of hospitality emerges.
- [Upside Down Hospitality &  The Little Way](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/upside-down-hospitality/) - Dr. Richard Beck – Author, blogger, and professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University – joins the City as Playground podcast to discuss the psychology of why we get so stuck in our tribal ruts. He suggests that an often overlooked Saint, Therese of Lisieux, offers a simple, yet profound way of finding ourselves swept up in a
- [Leadership Secrets from the 16th Century](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/leadership-secrets-from-the-16th-century/) - Author and Leadership Foundations friend Chris Lowney joined us for the final installment of our series on Traditioned Innovation.
- [Learning To Pray: Town Hall with Father James Martin](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/learning-to-pray-town-hall-with-father-james-martin/) - On Wednesday, February 24, we had the pleasure of being joined by Father James Martin, New York Times Best Selling Author and editor of America magazine. Martin’s books include The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life, and My Life With the Saints. Father Martin joined us in conversation about his just-released
- [Challenging Assumptions To Help Shape The Future](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/challenging-assumptions-to-help-shape-the-future/) - Video of February 17 Town Hall with Augsburg University President Dr. Paul Pribbenow and Mentoring Lifetime Achievement Award winner Melody Rodriguez
- [Creating Brave Spaces To Build Trust And Connection](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/creating-brave-spaces-to-build-trust-and-connection/) - Rev. Jen Bailey joins the LF Town Hall with Local Leadership Foundation President Oliver Richmond from Kingdom Partners
- [Seeing Scripture In New Ways: Town Hall with Dr. Julia Fogg](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/seeing-scripture-in-new-ways-town-hall-with-dr-julia-fogg/) - On Wednesday February 3, LF hosted the second in our six-part series of LF Town Halls on Traditioned Innovation. We were fortunate to have Dr. Julia Fogg share with us about seeing the scripture in new ways, having a high view of the authority of scripture coupled with a high view of anthropology and her
- [Town Hall with Dr. Richard Beck: "Traditioned Innovation"](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/town-hall-with-dr-richard-beck-traditioned-innovation/) - Is it possible to bring together old and new and recover things that have always been? On January 27, Dr. Richard Beck joined us for the first in a series of Town Halls on Traditioned Innovation examining we can renew traditions and practices from the past in order to improve on the present and make progress towards the future.
- [Traditioned Innovation: A Way of Proceeding](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-way-of-proceeding/) - Is leadership about making important decisions? Or is it more about the way of going about making decisions? To borrow a phrase from the Jesuits, what is a “way of proceeding” that allows us to move forward together in these uncertain times? We are join by Lisa Slayton, Leadership Foundations board member, organizational consultant and founder of Tamim Partners to
- [Melody Rodriguez Awarded National Mentoring Lifetime Achievement Award](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/equity-and-diversity/melody-rodriguez-lifetime-achievement-award/) - Honorees include US Senator Corey Booker, amongst other celebrated leaders and philanthropists. MENTOR National, an organization dedicated to unifying mentoring across the nation recently announced this year’s honorees of the annual Excellence in Mentoring awards. Amongst its honorees was Tacoma native, Melody Rodriguez, Director of Proyecto MoLE (Movimiento Latino Estudiantil). The Excellence in Mentoring awardees
- [Traditioned Innovation: An Introduction](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/traditioned-innovation/) - With the beginning of the new year, 2021 brings plenty of uncertainty along with it. How do we approach this new and uncertain future? How do we seek long-term change in our world's cities, when we don't even know what will happen tomorrow? Could it be that the deepest resources of our traditions hold the key to some of most promising current-day innovations? In this series, Traditioned Innovation, Leadership Foundations explores how we bring to light and make use of the wisdom of our traditions in our new and innovative ways to meet the most urgent challenges of our modern urban world.
- [Praying With Poetry - Advent 2020](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/praying-with-poetry/) - In this special Advent 2020 podcast episode, Fr. Steve Lantry, SJ joins us to explore how poetry can serve as an aid to deepen one’s prayer life. Fr. Steve shares a few of his favorite poems that have aided him in his own prayer, and offers up some commentary on the nature of our interior
- [Creating Light From Dark: An Advent Reflection](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/creating-light-from-dark-an-advent-reflection/) - As much as Leadership Foundations is an Easter organization, it is also one that seeks to embody Advent. Yes, to the death and resurrection. Equally yes to the Mother and child. This is because there is a telling of the Christmas story that tastes and feels a lot like the cities in which we work.
- [Praying With Poetry: Special Advent Season Town Hall](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/praying-with-poetry-special-advent-season-town-hall/) - At its essence prayer is poetry. The careful curation of words to express what is often inexpressible. Please join the LF community as we sit with Father Steve Lantry S.J. and explore how the reading and listening of poetry can be a resource to your spiritual life in this Advent season.
- [Public Theology for the Common Good](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/public-theology-for-the-common-good/) - How do the deep resources of our faith help us to more deeply engage the Public Square? Can a Public Theology help us find a way through these divided and polarized times to work together toward the Common Good?Anne Snyder (bio below), the Editor-in-Chief of Comment Magazine and the host of Breaking Ground, a collaborative web commons,
- [Eucharistic Leadership (Rebroadcast of Episode 37)](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-redux/) - In this rebroadcast episode, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations president Dave Hillis explore the Eucharistic shape of life and leadership – what it means to be taken, blessed, broken and given. Subscribe
- [The Role Of The Philanthropic Community In Healing Fractures](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/the-role-of-the-philanthropic-community-in-healing-fractures/) - As we look at all of the changes happening in the world–a worldwide pandemic, renewed calls for racial justice, and the need to repair the deep polarization that exists across the globe, what role does the philanthropic community play? How can funders and grassroots organizations work together? In the finale of the Leadership Foundations Healing
- [The Day After: Healing After The US Election](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/the-day-after-healing-after-the-us-election/) - As Dave Hillis mentioned to open the LF Town Hall on Wednesday, November 4, LF is perhaps one of the only places in the country where people from both sides of the political aisle are willingly gathering on the day after a highly contentious election. Despite the challenges, we believe that LF’s indispensable strength is
- [Repairers and Restorers: LF Town Hall Wednesday, November 11](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/repairers-and-restorers-lf-town-hall-wednesday-november-11/) - On November 11, we were joined by Peter Wehner to speak with us about the role that Christians can play as "repairers of the breach" and finding ways to heal across political lines.
- [Forgiveness and the Art of Collaboration](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/forgiveness-and-the-art-of-collaboration/) - A Conversation with Rachel McPherson of Mutuality In this podcast we explore what real, authentic collaboration is and how it can help us out of our deep ruts of resentment and rivalry. Rachel McPherson, Founder and CEO of Mutuality, joins us to share about nurturing collaborations amongst the least likely of suspects in the New
- [Partisanship and Christ's Healing Power | A Conversation with Jim Wallis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/christ-in-crisis/) - In this City as Playground episode, Jim Wallis — founder of Sojourners and author of the recently released Christ in Crisis: Why we Need to Reclaim Jesus — join us. Together, we explore Jesus’ distinct response to our all-too-human tendency to build walls, make enemies, and create deep divides in our society and world. Join
- [Civil Conversations In An Uncivil World: Healing A Fractured World Episode 2](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/civil-conversations-in-an-uncivil-world-healing-a-fractured-world-episode-2/) - On Being's Rev. Lucas Johnson joined the LF Town Hall to talk about how to have civil conversations and engage in adventurous civility with those we may disagree with.
- [Healing A Fractured World: Town Hall Series Episode 1](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/healing-a-fractured-world-town-hall-series-episode-1/) - Renowned Leadership Development expert Rev. Ernest Brooks joined the Leadership Foundations network for Episode 1 of the Town Hall series “Healing A Fractured World.” Ernest is a Senior Associate with Isaacson, Miller in Washington, DC. He spoke with co-hosts Dave Hillis and Cornelius Williams about the relationship between reconciliation and equity and the importance of
- [Is it Possible for American Policing to be Reformed?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/equity-and-diversity/police-reform-nick-sensley/) - A case for nonreactive leadership in a "knee-jerk solution" world Is policing beyond repair? Is defunding the only answer? Helping us address these questions, Former police chief and leadership consultant, Nick Sensley, joins the podcast to talk about how to bring about real change in the area of police reform. Nick brings 40+ years of
- [A Basketball Court and the City as a Playground in Africa](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/a-basketball-court-and-the-city-as-a-playground-in-africa/) - We are so proud to have partnered with the Leadership Foundation of Nairobi - Center for Transforming Mission Kenya - on this project: ...Bringing high quality basketball courts to the largest informal settlement in Nairobi. Check out some remarkable local leaders in Immaculate Awuor and Dennis Orek who are empowering young people and developing them
- [Jordon Never Had a Consistent Male in his Life](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/jordon-and-calvin/) - And his mom knew the facts – that having a parent in prison can often lead to depression, anger, and often affects a child’s success in school. It was this that pushed Jordon’s mom to take action. She called up the Knoxville Leadership Foundation to see if they could find her 5-year-old son a caring
- [A Deep Dive Into LF's Theology of Place](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/a-deep-dive-into-lfs-theology-of-place/) - Dave Hillis and Cornelius Williams, President of Resurgence Leadership Foundation in Atlanta, joined host (and CCIC Trustee Council member) Anne Snyder on "The Whole Person Revolution" podcast. In this episode, Dave, Cornelius, and Anne have a conversation about the issues in cities that LF is trying to address, the importance of relational leadership, why LF
- [Accompany:  To Walk Alongside; to be Present With](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/spirituality/accompany-dave-hillis/) - This may come as a surprise to you, but I can’t help but be hopeful for the future. You know some of the enormous challenges that cities have faced (and continue to face) over these past months. A global pandemic that has hit marginalized urban communities more than anywhere else. And widespread recognition that we
- [Accompaniment: The Simple  Power Of Walking Alongside](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/accompaniment-the-simple-power-of-walking-alongside/) - Pancho Argüelles, Executive Director of the Living Hope Wheel Chair Association, joins us for this episode exploring spiritual and social aspects of Accompaniment.
- [On Immigration, the Pandemic and Where Hope Resides](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/on-immigration-today-and-where-hope-resides/) - For many of our local Leadership Foundations, immigration is not simply an abstract issue. It is a shared story and first-hand experience etched into the lives and faces of real human beings – women, children, men – those who make the uncertain and often dangerous journey to a new land. Cities are Magnets... They draw diverse peoples in search of safety, opportunity, and more. And
- [Equity Means Ownership...](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/equity-means-ownership-cornelius/) - Then I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.'"Nehemiah 2:17 For Juneteenth this year, I was in downtown Atlanta with my church and a
- [The Leadership Foundations' Charism](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-leadership-foundations-charism/) - Noted public theologian Stanley Hauerwas asked a provocative question: true or false, you can only act within the world in which you see? We answer this question in a resoundingly affirmative way—yes—you can only act within the world in which you see. The next, and, perhaps more important question from an LF perspective is this: how do you see? The answer to
- [2018 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/2018-annual-report-an-investment-in-leadership-an-investment-in-change/) - Your investment in Leadership Foundations in 2018 made a remarkable year possible in our quest to develop and empower the leaders of Leadership Foundations. From launching the Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center to strengthening the Global Youth Initiative to creating an online training platform to the continual development of our data collection platform and more, LF
- [2016 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/2016-annual-report/) - We are excited to share the Leadership Foundations’ 2016 Annual Report with you. Last year was filled with a remarkable number of developments that have further positioned Leadership Foundations (LF) and our members as a force of good will on behalf of cities throughout the world. In this report, you will learn about the intentional process
- [2015 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/2015-annual-report/) - Leadership Foundations took many important steps in 2015 that have further positioned us to positively impact cities around the world for generations to come. Through this report you will learn about the processes, decisions, investments, and strategies taken to achieve these impacts. It is our sincerest hope that you sense our deep thankfulness for your
- [2017 Annual Report](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-reports/2017-annual-report/) - We are excited to share the Leadership Foundations 2017 Annual Report with you. This year marks our 40th anniversary of service to cities and communities around the world. In the report, you will learn about this 40 year legacy and the developments on the horizon that position Leadership Foundations for future impact. [pdf-embedder url="https://leadershipfoundations.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/LF-2017-Annual-Report-Single-Page-5.1a.pdf"
- [Leadership For the Long Haul in the City of Angels](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/leadership-for-the-long-haul-in-the-city-of-angels/) - Leadership Foundations invests in leaders who create change. By investing practical resources in leaders dedicated to addressing their communities’ greatest needs, cities do in fact get better. Bobby Arias and William “Blinky” Rodriguez refer to themselves as brothers from another mother. Others have called them the yin to the other’s yang, Batman and Robin, and
- [The Leaders of Leadership Foundations](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-leaders-of-leadership-foundations/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. This episode begins a new series of the LF podcast which will feature the heroic stories of leaders throughout the LF network. Rick and Dave begin by discussing Bob Terry’s definition of leadership as well as Marshall Gant’s framework
- [Repairers of the Breach](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/spirituality/anne-snyder-brooks-remarks-at-lf-gathering-november-6-2019/) - Anne Snyder Brooks remarks at LF Gathering, November 6 2019 Thank you, Bill. I never thought I’d be in the position of being introduced by YOU, someone who not only has become a kind of elder statesman in my life, and mentor, but a real friend. You’ve been someone whose convictions around the foundational importance
- [YuvaLok Leadership Foundation is Loving Bangalore Amidst the Pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/covid-19/yuvalok-leadership-foundation-bangalore-india/) - Distributing Food to thousands of the most vulnerable families throughout Bangalore, India.
- [Prayer Amidst the Lockdown](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/2773-2/) - Amidst pain, fear and uncertainty, we often find those places of hope in the most unexpected places. Irish priest Fr. Richard Hendrick OFM makes this point in his poem below, titled ‘Lockdown.’ Let it be a prayer for all of us in these times of uncertainty: Lockdown Yes there is fear. Yes there is
- [Leadership Foundations is taking the lead on the COVID-19 crisis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/leadership-foundations-are-taking-the-lead-on-the-covid-19-crisis-2/) - LEADERSHIP IS STEPPING INTO THE GAP The global crisis that we now find ourselves in, with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, is placing unimaginable stress on vulnerable communities and those experiencing poverty. As millions are on lockdown and businesses are closing, unemployment is spiking. Paying rent and utilities, getting food and finding
- [Thank You for Contacting Your Legislators!](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/covid-19/thank-you/) - Last month, we asked you to contact your legislator to advocate for support to non-profits during stimulus act negotiations. Many of you took action by contacting your legislators. Thank you! As a result of our collective action, Independent Sector recently shared that... Nonprofit needs are included for the first time in all emergency relief packages
- [COVID-19 Town Hall Meetings](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/covid-19-town-hall-meetings-2/) - In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Leadership Foundations began holding weekly Town Hall Meetings spotlighting relevant experts, theological responses to the crisis, and the real-time responses of the network. In case you have missed them or want to rewatch, you can find the recordings below. April 1 Town Hall featuring: Dan Cardinali, President & CEO,
- [An Invitation into the Chaos](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/spirituality/an-invitation-into-the-chaos/) - In this time of “winter”, where the needs of those in our communities have escalated, the risk of burnout and unhealth becomes even more of a danger. In normal times and in this time of crisis, it is easy to flip the order of the two commandments. Loving your neighbor becomes all-consuming. And loving God somehow gets lost in the frenzy. But this is not sustainable –personally or organizationally.
- [Lexington Leadership Foundation is Leading During the Pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/lexington-leadership-foundation/) - Serving meals to the most vulnerable families in the city
- [Catalyst, the Leadership Foundation of Delhi, is Leading During the Pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/catalyst-the-leadership-foundation-of-delhi-india/) - In Delhi, India, the local leadership Foundation, Catalyst, is serving in an extremely tense environment — many have recently lost their homes to riots, migrant farm workers have been pushed out of their humble dwellings, and the city is under a complete lock-down.
- [Resurgence Leadership Foundation is Loving Atlanta Amidst a Pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/community/metro-atlanta-leadership-foundation/) - Many children have been robbed of opportunities and resources during the pandemic. Resurgence has pivoted to deliver powerful mentoring relationships from a distance.
- [The Contingent is Loving Portland amidst a Pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/covid-19/the-contingent-leadership-foundation-of-portland-oregon/) - The Portland Leadership Foundation, The Contingent, is making sure that foster families receive the care and supplies that they need during the COVID-19 Crisis
- [In case you missed this week's Town Hall](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/town-hall/in-case-you-missed-this-weeks-town-hall/) - Thanks to all who joined the August 26th Town Hall. Be sure to look out for weekly invitations to upcoming Town Hall meetings. You can register now here for next week's Town Hall on September 2 featuring CCIC Senior Fellow Jeff Bailey and Matt Lundgren from Billings Leadership Foundation. As always, feel free to share
- [The Pain of Violence: What Can We Do, Together?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/equity-and-diversity/what-can-we-do-together/) - Our hearts break and our souls are wrenched over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. We also acknowledge that they join a long list of others, some of whose names we don’t even know, spread throughout the world. The horrific violence that occurred in South Minneapolis at the doorstep of our
- [Loving Lewiston Amidst a Pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/covid-19/root-cellar-lewiston-me/) - Offering meals, academic support, and prayer to some of the most vulnerable families in Lewiston, Maine.
- [Our city is hurting, but there's hope...](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/covid-19/our-city-is-hurting/) - A reflection from David Hawn, CEO of the Leadership Foundation of Minneapolis, Urban Ventures. Dear friends and supporters: What an amazing group of compassionate people you are! Tuesday, thanks to donations from the Timberwolves/Lynx, Hy-Vee, Matter (a global nonprofit organization based in St. Louis Park), and all of you, we distributed several tons of food and
- [A 40 Year Legacy: An Emerging Organization- Episode 42](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-an-emerging-organization-episode-42/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Rick discuss the emergence and evolution of the LF organization. Together they explore the formation of LF as we know it today and how LF has balanced the tension between organic and organizational realities
- [A 40 Year Legacy: The Common Square](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-the-common-square-episode-43/) - Episode 43 - City As Playground Podcast Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Rick explore how LF has ventured into the public sector over the past 40 years. Together they delve into the necessity of engaging all sectors of
- [A 40 Year Legacy: Cultivating Global Impact](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/episode44/) - Episode 44, City as Playground Podcast Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Rick are joined by Leslie MacKrell, Partner at The Bridgespan Group. Together they discuss the intensive Bridgespan project and how it better positioned LF to cultivate and drive
- [A 40 Year Legacy: Sustaining A Movement- Episode 45, City as Playground Podcast](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-sustaining-a-movement-episode-45/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In the final episode of the series celebrating LF’s 40th year of work, Dave and Rick are joined by CIS Founder and LF Board member Bill Milliken. They talk about the inauguration of the Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center (CCIC)
- [February 2020 Street Lights Reflection - Dave Hillis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/february-2020-street-lights-reflection-dave-hillis/) - T.S. Eliot, in his poem regarding Ash Wednesday which inaugurates the Lenten Season we are currently walking through as a Church, writes these evocative lines: “Where shall the word be found, where will the word resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.” These words haunt me, and perhaps you. They raise the question
- [Meet Mario Matos](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/meet-mario-matos/) - Meet Mario Matos, one of the remarkable leaders in the Leadership Foundations Network. Mario serves as the president of Sinergia, the Leadership Foundation of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In a city that is growing rapidly, with a broadening chasm between the rich and poor, Sinergia is bringing together nonprofits, churches, and businesses to work
- [LF Theological Round Table with Guest Jim Wallis.  Leadership amidst Crisis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/lf-theological-roundtable-jim-wallis-on-leadership-amidst-crisis/) - On a quarterly basis, Leadership Foundations holds a quarterly conversation with our network on what it looks like to think theologically as local Leadership Foundations see their cities as playgrounds. We were blessed to host bestselling author and public theologian Jim Wallis, who shared about what it looks like to lead and be a
- [Nonreactive Leadership or, Leadership in a Time of Coronavirus](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/theology/nonreactive-leadership/) - It is in times like we find ourselves in today--with the COVID-19 pandemic on everyone's mind--that many would say to Leadership Foundations, "Cities as playgrounds? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They sure look more like battlegrounds these days to me." With social distancing potentially making us see our neighbors as our enemies, and shelter in place
- [Leadership Foundations are taking the lead on the COVID-19 crisis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/leadership-foundations-are-taking-the-lead-on-the-covid-19-crisis/) - LEADERSHIP IS STEPPING INTO THE GAP The global crisis that we now find ourselves in, with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, is placing unimaginable stress on vulnerable communities and those experiencing poverty. As millions are on lockdown and businesses are closing, unemployment is spiking. Paying rent and utilities, getting food and finding basics
- [The Root Cellar - Lewiston, ME](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/uncategorized/root-cellar-lewiston-me-2/) - Offering meals, academic support, and prayer to some of the most vulnerable families in Lewiston, Maine.
- [The Contingent, Leadership Foundation of Portland, Oregon](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/uncategorized/the-contingent-leadership-foundation-of-portland-oregon-2/) - The Portland Leadership Foundation, The Contingent, is making sure that foster families receive the care and supplies that they need during the COVID-19 Crisis
- [YuvaLok Leadership Foundation, Bangalore, India](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/uncategorized/yuvalok-leadership-foundation-bangalore-india-2/) - Distributing Food to thousands of the most vulnerable families throughout Bangalore, India.
- [Catalyst, the Leadership Foundation of Delhi, India](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/uncategorized/catalyst-the-leadership-foundation-of-delhi-india-2/) - In Delhi, India, the local leadership Foundation, Catalyst, is serving in an extremely tense environment — many have recently lost their homes to riots, migrant farm workers have been pushed out of their humble dwellings, and the city is under a complete lock-down.
- [Lexington Leadership Foundation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/uncategorized/lexington-leadership-foundation-2/) - Serving meals to the most vulnerable families in the city
- [Resurgence Leadership Foundation (Atlanta)](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/uncategorized/metro-atlanta-leadership-foundation-2/) - Many children have been robbed of opportunities and resources during the pandemic. Resurgence has pivoted to deliver powerful mentoring relationships from a distance.
- [Serving Our City in Crisis](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/serving-our-city-in-crisis/) - Like so many others, we could have never imagined what the beginning of 2020 would hold for our world and nation. We at Lexington Leadership Foundation (LLF) have been challenged with the question, “How do we serve our city, while still adhering to the guidelines set in place for our community’s safety?” What does LLF’s
- [Building Capacity](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/building-capacity/) - Karl Barth, the eminent Swiss theologian, suggested the following: “Jesus Christ is not only truly God, he is human like every one of us…He is not only similar to us, he is like us.” The reality of the Incarnation frames the vital collective force of Leadership Foundations (LF): making cities better by developing leaders who
- [Whole Leaders: Honoring Juliao Mutemba](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/whole-leaders-honoring-juliao-mutemba/) - LF believes that to transform cities and create a better world, we must focus on leadership and developing whole leaders. As such, whole leaders is the Raison d’être for LF’s existence. One of the key characteristics of a whole leader is seeing a “third way.” Whole leaders recognize that the world is not dichotomous, so
- [Coaching That Works](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/coaching-that-works/) - Who taught you that? Most of us can quickly recall an important coach or mentor in our lives; a person who helped you learn a new skill, invested in you over the years, or even changed the way you saw and navigated the world. A good coach can change everything. At LF, we believe this,
- [Coaching for Impact](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/coaching-for-impact/) - “That which goes deepest to the heart goes farthest to the world.” – F. Dale Bruner Bruner’s statement frames the efficacy of our Senior Associate strategy, 20 experienced leaders who mentor each of our members around what works. Last month we introduced you to one of these Senior Associates, Howard Eddings, who has worked
- [Changing the World](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/changing-the-world/) - “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead Leadership Foundations is graced with just such a reality: LLF presidents and their staff around the world. These leaders are the “group of thoughtful, committed citizens” that LF is
- [Changing the World](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/changing-the-world-2/) - The old adage—dream big or go home—certainly applies to LF’s vision of cities and communities becoming playgrounds instead of battlegrounds. Farfetched, outrageous, impracticable, might all be adjectives attached to this vision…unless Margaret Mead, who we quoted last month, is correct. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the
- [Wheel of Change](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/wheel-of-change/) - How do you make a city better? How do you transform a city into a playground? These are the questions that Leadership Foundations is devoted to answering. Through over 35 years of field-tested work, we believe the key is developing leaders who drive the wheel of permanent change in their cities by increasing mastery
- [Communities of Practice](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/communities-of-practice/) - For a movement like LF to flourish, organizational theorists talk about developing a learning culture—that particular way in which knowledge is gathered, packaged, and delivered. Richard McDermott, in the Harvard Business Review, coined the term “communities of practice” to describe how this process works. Indeed, we need look no further than Jesus’s training of the
- [Interview with Jack Fortin, LF Board Chair](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/interview-with-jack-fortin-lf-board-chair/) - Leadership Foundations Board Chair Jack Fortin was awarded an honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Divinity honoris causa) on May 19th during the 118th Annual New York Theological Seminary Commencement. We chatted with Jack about this high honor and his experience being recognized for a lifetime of achievements in ministry and theological thought. To watch Dr. Fortin’s
- [Mentoring Youth for Leadership](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/mentoring-youth-for-leadership/) - The Department of Justice must think that Leadership Foundations (LF) is doing something right in mentoring at-risk youth. Since 2015, LF has received two grant awards from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) totaling $4.5 million to provide mentoring relationships to more than 4,500 youth through a network of 23 Local Leadership
- [Board Training Initiative](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/board-training-initiative/) - William Blake famously stated, “Execution is the chariot of genius.” Execution can take on many different forms, or “chariots.” Often, for nonprofits, chariots are programmatic in nature: youth, housing, and the like. For example, we desire good health care for the underserved, so we create a clinic. Efforts like this are good and should be
- [Wheel of Change](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/wheel-of-change-2/) - Leadership Foundations is in the business of transforming cities. But, how can this kind of large-scale change actually take place? We believe that leadership, committed to an entire city over time, is the key to transformation. Through over 40 years of field-tested work we have created a theory of change that equips our members to
- [Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center Launch](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/colangelo-carpenter-innovation-center-launch/) - Embedded in the very marrow of Leadership Foundations (LF), is the adage that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. This idea emanates from Jesus who, in his first public debut, acknowledged his sense of indebtedness to his cousin, John the Baptist (Matthew 3). In this context, and with LF’s
- [A 40 Year Legacy: A Global Fellowship- Episode 41](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-a-global-fellowship-episode-41/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Rick discuss LF's organizational development over the course of its 40-year history. With a clip from LF founder Reid Carpenter, the conversation explores the early years of fellowship, the importance of the Incarnation, and
- [A 40 Year Legacy: A Theology As Big As The City- Episode 40](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-a-theology-as-big-as-the-city-episode-40/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Rick continue to discuss LF's 40th anniversary and look back at key pieces of the LF theological framework. The conversation includes clips from Dr. Ray Bakke, a pivotal voice since LF's early years, reflecting
- [A 40 Year Legacy: The Founding Story- Episode 39](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-the-founding-story-episode-39/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Rick continue their conversation about LF's 40th anniversary. Together they discuss key moments, people, and ideas that contributed to the founding of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation in 1978. Complete with words from our founder Reid
- [Highway of Hope](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/highway-of-hope/) - Our members transform communities around the world by driving the LF wheel of change. This work was on clear display at a series of meetings in Nairobi in early March. Hosted by CTM Kenya, the Local Leadership Foundation, the time featured everything from board training to basketball clinics. CTM Kenya was founded in 2006
- [A 40 Year Legacy- Episode 38](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-40-year-legacy-episode-38/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In 2018, Leadership Foundations marks its 40th anniversary. In this episode, Dave and Rick discuss the importance of remembrance and set up our next podcast series which will explore significant events over the last 40 years that have brought
- [Eucharistic Leadership Review- Episode 37](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-review-episode-37/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How does the Eucharist impact and shape leadership? In this episode, Dave and Rick look back on the last 10 months and our dive into the idea of Eucharistic leadership and its four movements- taken, blessed, broken, and given.
- [Eucharistic Leadership Whispercast: Given- Episode 35](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-whispercast-given-episode-35/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How does power shape leadership? Can one lead without being in control? In this Whispercast, Dave and Rick dive into the fourth and final movement of Eucharistic Leadership, being given. Join them as they discuss how this notion can
- [Eucharistic Leadership: Given- Episode 36](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-given-episode-36/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What is the purpose of being given and how does it impact leadership? In this episode, Dave and Rick talk with Jack Fortin, Chair of the Leadership Foundations Board and Senior Fellow at Augsburg College, about the importance of
- [Eucharistic Leadership- Episode 28](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-episode-28/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Is leadership bred or born? In this episode, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis explore how the Eucharist can shape our view of leadership. They contrast the 4 P's of conventional leadership to a Eucharistic leadership of being taken, blessed, broken, and given. Join them as they dive into the
- [New Video- LF's Wheel of Change](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/new-video-lfs-wheel-of-change-leadership-foundations-news/) - Leadership Foundations works to bring social and spiritual renewal to cities around the world. How do we do this? Through LF's wheel of change: engaging leaders of good faith and good will, building the capacity of others, and developing joint initiatives. We are excited to unveil our brand new video, The LF Wheel of Change: Transforming Cities, which tells this
- [Eucharistic Leadership Whispercast: Broken- Episode 33](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-whispercast-broken-episode-33/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What does brokenness have to do with leadership? In this episode, Dave and Rick introduce the third movement of Eucharistic leadership, being broken. They discuss how this counter-intuitive movement is vital to the vision of the city as playground.
- [Eucharistic Leadership: Broken- Episode 34](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-broken-episode-34/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What if our identity is not wrapped up in getting it right or being perfect? In this episode, Dave and Rick talk with Kris Rocke (Executive Director of Street Psalms and LF Senior Associate) about his experience of the
- [Eucharistic Leadership: Blessed- Episode 32](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-blessed-episode-32/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What does it mean to be blessed, even in the midst of life's most challenging realities? In this episode, Dave and Rick talk with Sara Melchior (LF Network Relations and Development Associate) about her experience of the third movement
- [Eucharistic Leadership Whispercast: Blessed- Episode 31](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-whispercast-blessed-episode-31/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What does it mean to be blessed as a leader? In this Whispercast, Rick and Dave introduce the second movement of Eucharistic leadership, being blessed. They discuss Eucharistic leadership and how mercy and blessing come together as one lives
- [Playgrounds or Battlegrounds?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/playgrounds-or-battlegrounds/) - How you view your city and community has been a central concern of LF’s work. Our conviction is that the way you see will determine how you act: free and generous or confined and malevolent. This is why Joseph Campbell argued “If you want to change the world, you have to change your metaphor.” Campbell
- [Eucharistic Leadership: Taken- Episode 30](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-taken-episode-30/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How can fostering humility in leadership help us be more effective and life-giving leaders to those we serve? Rick and Dave talk with Larry Lloyd—President of Memphis Leadership Foundation and LF Vice President of Network Impact—about how being taken
- [The Welcoming Table](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-welcoming-table/) - Who is welcome at your table? Leadership Foundations takes this question seriously and recognizes that the answer is not always easy to live out. To welcome someone to your table signifies that they are wanted, heard, and included. Jesus is the perfect model of this welcoming. Jesus created tables that were different from the
- [Hurricane Katrina: Ten Years Later](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/katrina10/) - Ten years ago today category five storm surges breached the levies of New Orleans and triggered a fast moving flood that rose 20 feet and swallowed whole swaths of the city. The devastation was utter and complete. The response slow and inadequate. The situation gut wrenching. It was a momentous event that affects our psyche
- [Eucharistic Leadership Whispercast: Taken- Episode 29](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/1953-2/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Is leadership simply possessed by the luck of the draw, or is it a gift that each of us have the ability of cultivating? In this Whispercast, Rick and Dave—using the Taken movement of Eucharistic leadership—explore how viewing leadership
- [Building Relationships Through Joint Initiatives](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/building-relationships-through-joint-initiatives/) - What role do relationships play in transforming cities into God's playgrounds? Relationships are at the core of what LF does, and ultimately we believe that they are the very thing that transforms people and places. We recognize the individuals and organizations that make up each city’s rich and promising landscape. However, this collective community often
- [Senior Associates](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/senior-associates/) - Is leadership born or bred? The theme of this month's City as Playground podcast was Eucharistic Leadership. As Dave and Rick discussed, one tenet of Eucharistic leadership is that the ability to lead is just as much, if not more, a product of nurture as it is of nature. At Leadership Foundations, one of the
- [The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-goose-that-laid-the-golden-egg/) - Many years ago G.K. Chesterton wrote a wonderful book called Orthodoxy. Among other things he wrote a chapter called the Ethics of Elfland where he made an argument for why fairytales had a kind of resiliency and permanence. His answer was quite straightforward: they last because they are true. Recently LF had a Goose That
- [Achieving Greater Impact](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/achieving-greater-impact-2/) - How can Leadership Foundations achieve greater impact in cities around the world? In March 2015, we set out to answer this question by launching the Advancement Plus Project (APP). Two years later, we are excited to report that we have made key shifts that have gone a long way to answering this question. We
- [Eucharistic Leadership Whispercast- Episode 27](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/eucharistic-leadership-whispercast-episode-27/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What would it look like if your leadership was shaped by the Eucharist? In this Whispercast, Rick and Dave discuss LF's perspective and its implications. This sets up our next full length podcast where they will dive into the shape of
- [Servant Leadership Whispercast- Episode 27](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/servant-leadership-episode-27/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. If we take the city as playground metaphor seriously, how does it shape our leadership in the city? In this Whispercast, Rick and Dave reflect on this idea and discuss how servant leadership can move us from transaction to
- [The Untold Christmas Story- Episode 26](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-untold-christmas-story-episode-26/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How does the Biblical Christmas story speak to our 21st century cities? In this episode, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis explore an untold version of the Christmas story that mirrors the realities of our world today. Join them as
- [The Table- Episode 25](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-table-episode-25/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Including diverse voices and expanding the table was core to Jesus's work. In this episode Rick Enloe, Dave Hillis, and Rev. Dr. Jean Milliken look specifically at the historical inclusion and exclusion of the female voice and how this has shaped
- [The Table Whispercast- Episode 24](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-table-whispercast-episode-24/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How do we create tables of inclusion? In this Whispercast, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis explore the dominant Scriptural image of the table and how Jesus's radical use of it draws a new portrait of God and serves as
- [Report Cards](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/report-cards/) - Report cards! For all but a few of us, the very words produce a low-grade nausea that can quickly mature into a high-grade paralysis. Whether a good or poor student we intuitively sense the news will be less than hoped. This tendency exists because we either are not as accomplished as we desire or
- [We Must Rise](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/we-must-rise/) - In August, 250 leaders from across Africa and around the globe gathered in Pretoria, South Africa for the Urban Ministry Consultation. For 20 years, this event has represented a space in which urban people working in the trenches of post-apartheid South Africa, or in urban slums and inner cities elsewhere in the world are able
- [A Relational Investment: Senior Associates](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/a-relational-investment-senior-associates/) - Leadership Foundations people are often asked, “How did you end up leading a local leadership foundation?” More specifically, “What were the variables, factors, and important moments that account for you leading this organization or running this program? And while we are tempted to provide a variety of answers that would lift our individual effort up,
- [A Goodly Way- Episode 23](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-goodly-way-episode-23/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Cultivating your city into a playground requires many things, among them dedication, collaboration, and innovation. In this episode, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis argue that the essential component of this kind of transformation is a commitment to go about
- [Ebenezer Stone](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/ebenezer-stone/) - One of the great images in the Old Testament is the Ebenezer Stone. The event is recorded in 1 Samuel 7:12, where Samuel, the priest of Israel at the time, erects a stone to remind everyone “thus far the Lord has helped us.” One can imagine that this became the first of many “stones” that
- [Laughter Transforms](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/laughter-transforms/) - Charles Dickens wrote in A Christmas Carol, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” From LF’s beginning we have recognized both the truth and the power of Dicken’s statement and how cities can become playgrounds rather than battlegrounds as a result. Laughter and humor sit at the very
- [Willing One Thing](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/willing-one-thing/) - Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, theologian, poet and social critic, in reflecting on the beatitude “blessed are the pure in heart,” wrote the following that captures an essential element we have recently highlighted in Street Lights and what we plan to continue moving forward: “Purity of heart is the ability to will one thing.” Kierkegaard’s
- [A Hopeful Imagination](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/a-hopeful-imagination/) - Give a child Legos, Lincoln Logs, or even a SimCity video game and before you know it, they will be building new lands and creating unique structures while also weaving fantastic tales. Leadership Foundations see this process of creating, being imaginative and seeing things in new ways as not exclusive to children; it is also vital
- [What Can We Do](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/what-can-we-do-2/) - Street Lights is written in real time. It is written in the midst of the vacillation and violence of our world. And if Street Lights is true—which we desire it to be—then it must in some way reflect these realities. Orlando this week. Charleston a year ago today. And countless lightning strikes of violence
- [Demonstrations of Work](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/demonstrations-of-work/) - Benjamin Franklin and Jesus had at least one thing in common. Franklin once stated, “Well done is better than well said.” Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Both move us toward an understanding that words—if they
- [A Goodly Way Whispercast- Episode 22](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/a-goodly-way-whispercast-episode-22/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis prepare to give key updates from around the Leadership Foundations' global network. Using stories, biblical passages, and even greek translations, they explore the importance of not only the good work being
- [The "Faith Factor"](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-faith-factor/) - This blog post was written by Samuel Acevedo, Pastor and Executive Director of Boston HERC, the Local Leadership Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. I often ask God, “What is the role of the church and faith-based institutions – what is the role of ‘people of good faith’ – as we seek to serve and love
- [Operationalizing a Vision- Episode 21](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/operationalizing-a-vision-episode-21/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Creating adaptive responses to community problems and using evaluation frameworks can seem incompatible at times. In this episode Rick Enloe, Dave Hillis,and Patricia Talton of the Northwest Leadership Foundation discuss how the two can go hand-in-hand to produce lasting
- [Operationalizing A Vision Whispercast- Episode 20](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/operationalizing-a-vision-episode-20/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis consider how Leadership Foundations has operationalized the vision that took root in Sam Shoemaker and Reid Carpenter over 50 years ago. Using church history, the LF story, and our new evaluation
- [Origins of the LF Charism- Episode 11](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/origins-of-the-lf-charism-city-as-playground-episode-11/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Now a network of 74 cities around the world, Leadership Foundations found its start in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Reid Carpenter. Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis are joined in this episode by Reid as they explore his early days with
- [Seeing Matters- Episode 1](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/seeing-matters-episode-1/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this first podcast host Rick Enloe explores with Leadership Foundations president Dave Hillis the theological, anthropological, and sociological framework of why seeing matters. Looking at a wide range of material, from the scripture to theological insights to the
- [City As Playground- Episode 2](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/city-as-playground-episode-2/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In episode two, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations president Dave Hillis continue to explore the idea of seeing the city as a playground. In this episode they look at the work of Simone Weil and René Girard among
- [The LF Book- Episode 3](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-lf-book-episode-3/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In episode three, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations president Dave Hillis take a look at the newly released LF Book Cities: Playgrounds or Battlegrounds? Leadership Foundations' Fifty Year Journey of Social and Spiritual Renewal. Listen to learn more
- [Intro to Whispercasts- Episode 4](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/intro-to-whispercasts-episode-4/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In episode four, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations President Dave Hillis introduce a new component to our podcast: The Whispercast. Each Whispercast will explore a new topic and invite listeners to think with us and join in the
- [The Urbanization of the World Whispercast- Episode 5](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-urbanization-of-the-world-whispercast-episode-5/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations’ President Dave Hillis introduce the topic of the next full length podcast: The Urbanization of the World with Dr. Ray Bakke. Preparing listeners to fully engage with the topic, this
- [The Urbanization of the World- Episode 6](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/the-urbanization-of-the-world-episode-6/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In episode six, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations President Dave Hillis are joined by Dr. Ray Bakke as they take a deeper look at the urbanization of the world . Dr. Bakke states that cities are an amplifier
- [Theology of Place Whispercast- Episode 7](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/theology-of-place-whispercast-episode-7/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, host Rick Enloe and Leadership Foundations’ President Dave Hillis begin to explore the theology of place, a value that drives Leadership Foundations to commit to and engage a city for the long term. This Whisper looks
- [Theology of Place- Episode 8](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/theology-of-place-episode-8/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In episode eight, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis are joined by Wil McCall, President of the Dallas Leadership Foundation, for a deeper dive into the theology of place. The theology of place is one of the most significant ramifications
- [Bible as Urban Book- Episode 9](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/bible-as-urban-book-episode-9/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Bible, newspaper, or both? Join Rick Enloe, Dave Hillis and Dr. Ray Bakke as they explore the dynamic between the two mediums and how they not only form but inform people of faith and good will as they seek
- [Origins of the LF Charism Whispercast- Episode 10](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/origins-of-the-lf-charism-whispercast-episode-10/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, we begin to explore the history and origins of the Leadership Foundations’ charism- seeing the city as a playground. Join Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis as they introduce this idea and prepare for our next full
- [Engaging Leaders- Episode 19](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/engaging-leaders-episode-19/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. It takes engaging leaders to engage leaders – leaders of good faith, good will, and also of good humor. In this episode Dave Hillis and Rick Enloe explore the role of humor in setting a table of joy where
- [Engaging Leaders Whispercast- Episode 18](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/engaging-leaders-whispercast-episode-18/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. What does it take to engage leaders of good faith and good will? In this Whispercast, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis touch on topics like humor and ego in a discussion about the attributes and pitfalls of leadership. This
- [Power in the Playground Whispercast- Episode 16](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/power-in-the-playground-whispercast-episode-16/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, we explore the role of power in our cities and lives. Join Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis as they begin to discuss the dynamics of power and prepare for our next full length podcast with Lisa
- [Power in the Playground- Episode 17](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/power-in-the-playground-episode-17/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How is power used on behalf of others? Is it used to include or exclude? In this episode, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis are joined by Lisa Pratt Slayton, President of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation. Together they dive into
- [Developing Joint Initiatives](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/developing-joint-initiatives/) - A central question to any group that works in the city is how they see the Holy Spirit operating. How does she move, where does she visit, and what does it look like when she has accomplished something? The answer to this question will largely determine how the group behaves and gets things done.
- [What National Leadership Can Learn](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/what-national-leadership-can-learn/) - At the end of September we witnessed the second in a series of political cage-matches otherwise known as U.S. presidential primary debates. Afterward an article in the New York Times, Trump Remains Center Stage, wryly summed up the debate with cheerful info-graphics charting each opponent’s attacks and counter attacks. Tellingly the article reveals just how
- [Paradigm Shift Whispercast- Episode 14](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/episode14/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, we explore Leadership Foundations' Advancement Plus Project through the lens of Thomas Kuhn's idea of paradigm shifts. Join Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis as they introduce this six month long project LF went through with The
- [Paradigm Shift- Episode 15](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/paradigm-shift-episode-15/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. How do you make cities better? In this episode, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis further explore the Advancement Plus Project and the singular focus that it produced: LF develops leaders who drive the wheel of change in their cities.
- [Changing the Metaphor: Competitors or Colleagues?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/changing-the-metaphor-competitors-or-colleagues/) - Deraa, Syria, 2011. Fifteen school children are arrested for graffitiing anti-government slogans. Locals take to the streets to protest. Military police open fire and kill four; the next day the same. Syrians all over explode into protest. The crackdown grows worse as armed resistance intensifies. Before long Syria devolves into a civil war where brutal
- [Engaging Leaders](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/engaging-leaders/) - How do you make a city better? This is the question that gets Leadership Foundations (LF) up in the morning, and the last issue of Street Lights explored our answer. Through 35 years of field-tested work, we believe the key is developing leaders who connect and drive the wheel of permanent change in their cities
- [Power of Relationship- Episode 13](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/episode13/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. Relationships have the power to transform people and place. In this episode, Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis are joined by Bill Milliken, one of the foremost pioneers in the movement to change the picture of education in the US,
- [Power of Relationship Whispercast- Episode 12](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/podcast/engaging-people-of-good-faith-and-good-will-whispercast-episode-12/) - Take a moment to listen to the latest episode of the City as Playground Podcast. In this Whispercast, we take a look at one of the ways that Leadership Foundations engage and transform cities. Join Rick Enloe and Dave Hillis as they introduce this first function: engaging people of good faith and good will and
- [Creating Change: LF Methodology](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/creating-change-lf-methodology/) - Whether it is Jim Collins describing the concept of the flywheel in his book Good to Great, the notion of a theory of change popularized by Carol Weiss in her book New Approaches to Evaluating Comprehensive Community Initiatives, or the scholarly reflections from the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford, all assert the importance of
- [Achieving Greater Impact](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/achieving-greater-impact/) - One of the things about Jesus that is rather striking is his use of questions. It appears that questions, rather than answers, are the way Jesus enters into the life of our world. The question which arises is why might this be so? While theories abound of how change can take place in the
- [Caring For Our Common Home](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/caring-for-our-common-home/) - While controversy and debate swirl around Pope Francis’ revolutionary encyclical, Laudato Si, what strikes us most is his subtle but profound insight into the “Care For Our Common Home.” Yes, our shared home is our planet, our cities, neighborhoods and homes. But it also resides within our hearts. Our common home is more than the
- [What Can We Do, Together?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/what-can-we-do/) - A while back syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. wrote a moving and nuanced reflection on the riots in Baltimore. In it he highlighted the hand-wringing exasperation of those who want to help but simply do not know how. Pitts closed by challenging his readers with a question: What can we do, each of us, to address
- [#CatLivesMatter?](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/catlivesmatter/) - Last week the whole of America seemed obsessed with Cecil the Lion, who, lured from a protective reserve and killed as a trophy animal, spawned near universal outrage on Facebook and other social media. Tragic as it was, many of us are left wondering what it was really all about. How can killing a
- [The Important Question](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-important-question/) - So, what can a nearly 1500 year old Catholic monastic community teach Leadership Foundations (LF)? LF is 50-years old, multi-denominational, and organized to engage the postmodern urban realities of the 21st century. The monks of Mount Angel Abbey are a Benedictine community founded in 1882, maintain a monastic tradition that has been a vital part
- [Changing Our Metaphors](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/changing-our-metaphors/) - Joseph Campbell famously stated, "If you want to change the world, you have to change the metaphor." Clearly his idea was preceded by Jesus. He replaced the metaphors that allowed the religious authority of his day to exclude and provided ones that include common women and men thereby allowing them to change the world.
- [The City Is A Playground](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-city-is-a-playground/) - Rucker Park and Reid Carpenter. What could the two possibly have in common? One, a famous outdoor basketball court in Harlem; the other, a man who founded the Leadership Foundations network. One, a place where many went to discover their jump shot; the other, where people discovered their love for their city. Well, perhaps the
- [Passing the Baton](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/passing-the-baton/) - St. Paul describes the Christian life as a race and writes, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). But what kind of race was Paul talking about? A sprint? A long distance run? A relay? Each type of race comes with its own strategy and approach, and can be
- [Loving Our Cities](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/loving-our-cities/) - "How do I love thee?" Elizabeth Barrett Browning begins her 43rd sonnet by asking this question. She answers with: “Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.” Similar to Browning, Leadership Foundations (LF) asks the same question about cities around the world and answers that there are countless ways depending on the
- [The Power of Relationship](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/the-power-of-relationship/) - It is Leadership Foundations' (LF) firm conviction that relationships are what will grow leaders and heal the world. Over our 50 year history we have stressed the importance of relationships in all that we do, whether building houses, providing affordable medical care or building ministry collaborations. As a result, the LF Central Office makes it a priority to create and capitalize
- [Training Whole Leaders](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/training-whole-leaders/) - Leaders are the foundations of great cities. At Leadership Foundations we help develop better leaders. Whole leaders. Leaders who know their cities and know how to make those cities whole as a result. One of the key ways we develop leaders is through our yearly Leadership Foundations Training Institute (LFTI). As has been the case
- [Better Together: A New Initiative ](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/better-together-a-new-initiative/) - Leadership Foundations (LF) works with leaders and organizations around the world focused on making cities better. We believe that unless we look at the City as a whole - its systems, structures, multi-sector realities, assets and flaws - we will miss achieving collective impact that is possible and instead end up working within our silos
- [Untold Stories](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/untold-stories/) - This past week we have had the chance to read about and reflect on the life and legacy of Maya Angelou. Among the many gifts she gave the world was a lesson on the importance of voice and story. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings she wrote, “There is no greater agony than
- [Transforming Lives: 2013 Leadership Foundations Mentoring Initiative](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/transforming-lives-2013-leadership-foundations-mentoring-initiative/) - This past year, over 3,500 youth across the country were given a life-changing opportunity. As a part of the Leadership Foundations Mentoring Initiative, organizations across the U.S. matched these kids with caring and consistent adult mentors. An increasing amount of research shows that a high quality mentor can increase school attendance, lower dropout rates, decrease
- [Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Partnership with Communities in Schools and Leadership Foundations](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-partnership-with-communities-in-schools-and-leadership-foundations/) - NEW ORLEANS, LA and SPRINGFIELD, MA.- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today during NBA All-Star weekend a partnership with two national organizations, Communities in Schools and Leadership Foundations.? The goal of the cause marketing effort is to inspire youth in need towards success through interaction with Hall of Famers and fundraising efforts.
- [Sailing into 2014: Capitalizing on Given Opportunities](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/sailing-into-2014-capitalizing-on-given-opportunities/) - We wanted to take this issue of Street Lights and surface a metaphor that recently appeared in the New Yorker magazine. It captures Leadership Foundations hopes as it embarks upon a new year. The article, titled “Two Ships” and written by Adam Gopnik, reflects on the comparison and contrast between two boats that set
- [Seeing Your City: Leadership Foundations 50 Year Journey](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/impact/seeing-your-city-leadership-foundations-50-year-journey/)

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/) - RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGE OUR CITIES CHANGE OUR WORLD.​ Help us transform our cities. Learn More Name Email Send Learn how you can be a part of real change in the city. Join The Movement 40+ YEARS OF Impact Here's what we accomplished in 2024: Joint Initiatives 0 Lives Directly Impacted 0 Touched By LF Cities
- [Global Youth Initiative](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/youth/) - GLOBAL YOUTH INITIATIVE When our youth thrive, our cities thrive.The Global Youth Initiative sees the limitless potential of our youngest citizens, empowering and developing youth as leaders. MENTORING Providing youth with caring, consistent adult mentors. Learn More SPORTS Developing leadership and life skills through sports. Learn More MENTORING Preparing Youth as the Next Generation of
- [The Network](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/network/) - THE NETWORK Every city is unique, with built-in assets to draw upon to address its challenges. Leadership Foundations is a global network committed to a contextual approach that harnesses the spiritual and social vitality of cities.From Delhi to Dallas, Leadership Foundations is using the power of relationships to drive real and lasting change. Network Members
- [Meet the Team](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/team/) - THE TEAM StaffBoardCCIC TrusteesLeadership Council Meet Our People Every day, a dedicated team of staff and volunteers wake up with the singular purpose of supporting our global network of local Leadership Foundations. Leadership includes our Staff, Board of Directors, CCIC Senior Innovation Fellows, and Leadership Council. STAFF CEO of Regenerate California Innovation Dan ColantoneFormer President
- [MYL Donate](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/myldonate/) - Email Subscribe © 2026 All Rights Reserved Spotify Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Linkedin Instagram
- [What We Do](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/what-we-do/) - We Work Together HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD Time-Tested Method Tapping into over 4 decades of experience, we distribute a proven model while freeing up local leaders to address the unique issues in their cities. Learn More Collaborative Approach The Leadership Foundations network leverages the power of relationships and authentic partnerships in
- [Public Theology](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/public-theology/) - Public Theology Theologian Stanley Haurwas once said, "You can only act in the world you can see." Join us in our pursuit of clearer vision, seeing cities as playgrounds where the most vulnerable can flourish. Traditioned Innovation: An Introduction With the beginning of the new year, 2021 brings plenty...Read More January 12, 2021 Load More
- [Donate](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/donate/) - Email Subscribe © 2026 All Rights Reserved Spotify Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Linkedin Instagram
- [Get Involved](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/get-involved/) - GET INVOLVED Host a Fundraiser Engage your friends, family, and colleagues in the life-transforming work of Leadership Foundations. Learn More Donate You can fuel real and lasting change in cities throughout the world. Make a gift today! Donate Now Newsletter Sign-up Get relationship-powered change delivered right to your inbox Sign Up Stretch Your Gift Expand
- [About](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/about/) - Creating Change Together Leadership Foundations’ vision is that cities across the world will be transformed into places of shalom where:“Men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets…each with cane in hand” and where “city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” (Zechariah 8:4-5)In short, we see cities as playgrounds.
- [Open Positions](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/open-positions/) - Employment at LF Current opportunities Every day, a dedicated team wakes up with the singular purpose of supporting our global network of local Leadership Foundations to bring about real and lasting change in our world’s cities. Below are the current open employment opportunities to work with Leadership Foundations. Thank you for your interest in employment
- [2022 Year End](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/ye2022/) - About Meet the Team Partners History What We Do Learning Hub The Network Innovation Public Theology Youth Development Charity To Change Street Lights City as Playground Podcast Get Involved About Meet the Team Partners History What We Do Learning Hub The Network Innovation Public Theology Youth Development Charity To Change Street Lights City as Playground
- [GivingTuesday](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/givingtuesday/) - WHEN YOU SUPPORT LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS YOU SUPPORT... A GLOBAL NETWORK OF LEADERS, INNOVATORS, AND CHANGE MAKERSCONNECTING A VULNERABLE CHILD WITH A CARING ADULT MENTORMAKING CLEAN WATERAVAILABLE IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPIBUILDING BASKETBALL COURTSFOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN OVERLOOKED NEIGHBORHOODS IN NAIROBI, KENYAEQUIPPING NEIGHBORSTO WORK TOGETHER TO TRANSFORM THEIR CITIES
- [Partners](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/partners/) - OUR PARTNERS Real change takes people linking arms and working together. Leadership Foundations' Strategic Partners work with us to address the complex challenges facing our cities today. Texas A&M Department of Sport Management Leadership Foundations partners with Texas A&M University on the Global Youth Initiative’s Sport for Development program. Texas A&M oversees the Sport for
- [South Sound Leadership Foundation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/sslf/) - South Sound Leadership Foundation Donate WORKING TOGETHER, LOVING THE SOUTH SOUND At the South Sound Leadership Foundation (SSLF), we are bringing people together from all walks of life to love and transform our city. From youth mentoring to developing the next generation of diverse leaders to equipping other organizations with the resources needed – SSLF
- [City as Playground](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/city-as-playground/) - Email Subscribe © 2026 All Rights Reserved Spotify Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Linkedin Instagram
- [Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/innovation/) - THe CCIC IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED to generate and scale creative ideas for serving people in need through five distinctive features: Global ScaleLF is a growing network of 40 plus Local Leadership Foundations from around the world. The CCIC’s mission is not simply to generate and test new ideas for transforming the way cities serve people in need,
- [Birthday](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/birthday/) - DONATE YOUR BIRTHDAY! By creating a Facebook Fundraiser for your birthday, you can raise funds to support Leadership Foundations and help equip the next generation of leaders for our cities! Create a Birthday Fundraiser
- [Proyecto MoLE](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/proyecto-mole/) - MELODY RODRIGUEZ Director Envelope SUPPORT MOLE TODAY! Every dollar of your donation goes to supporting the work of Proyecto Mole to inspire, prepare, and mobilize the next generation of Latino youth leaders. Thank you for your generosity!
- [Annual Report Test](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/annual-report-test/) - Dear Reader, As you are well aware, 2020 was a year filled with gut-wrenching realities. These realities—the pandemic, racial inequities, gender discrimination—have come like unrelenting waves to the shore, both remorseless and ruthless. But perhaps the most difficult and ugly part of these many “waves” has been the relational fractures that have been revealed. Though we know the only way through this is
- [Charity To Change](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/charity-to-change/) - CHARITY TO CHANGE In partnership with the Lilly Endowment Inc., Leadership Foundations has developed Charity To Change, an innovative training program to work with churches and church collaboratives to reimagine how congregations can invest in long-term, systemic community change with the skills, knowledge, and tools essential to build closer connections with their local communities, to develop
- [BTI](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/bti/) - BOARD TRAINING INTIATIVE The LF Board Training Initiative (BTI), in partnership with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, engages staff and board leadership in an intensive year-long initiative that couples training, individualized coaching and personalized work plans to increase board engagement and performance. More Since 2016, 40 organizations have participated in the LF Board Training Initiative.
- [Donate-old](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/donate-old/) - REAL, LASTING CHANGE STARTS HERE Your gift today can make the crucial difference – to help build our cities into places where the most marginalized receive what they need to lead lives of promise. The Difference You'll Make: Empower a Budding Entrepreneur Connect a young leader with the training and resources needed to succeed.
- [Bakke Family Care](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/bakke-family-care/) - Bakke Family Care Fund Thank you for your generosity in supporting Ray Bakke and his family medical needs at this time.
- [LAUNCH HOME](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/launch-home/) - RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGE OUR CITIES CHANGE OUR WORLD.​ Help us transform our cities. Learn More Name Email Send Learn how you can be a part of real change in the city. Join The Movement 40+ YEARS OF Impact Here's what we accomplished in 2019: Joint Initiatives 0 Lives Directly Impacted 0 Touched By LF Cities
- [Initiatives](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/initiatives/) - LF INITIATIVES We are dedicated to supporting our members and have witnessed over the past 40+ years what this sort of investment can do. We develop leaders by connecting, developing and equipping our members through a variety of initiatives. How We Serve Our Network Stages Of Impact More Stages Of Impact The SOI Online Platform is
- [Launch](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/launch/) - LAUNCH! ARE YOU SURE?
- [History](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/history/) - LF HISTORY Leadership Foundations has served cities and communities around the world for over 40 years, dedicated to long-term transformation so that ultimately we see lives transformed and cities become playgrounds. 1978 Reid Carpenter founds the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation to carry out the vision given by Reverend Samuel Shoemaker “that Pittsburgh will one day be
- [Thank You](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/thank-you/) - THANK YOU FOR MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS. EVERY GIFT MATTERS!
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/privacy/) - PRIVACY POLICY Leadership Foundations Leadership Foundations operates a website at leadershipfoundations.org. It is Leadership Foundations’ policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our website. If you have questions about deleting or correcting your personal data please contact our support team. Website Visitors Like most website operators, Leadership Foundations collects
- [BTI Coaches' Resource Page](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/bti-coaches-resource/) - The purpose of the BTI Coaches' Resource Page is to provide a central location for the toolbox of resources that support the BTI Coaches as they work with the program’s cohort organizations. Click on the links below to download resources. Coaching Resources Coaching Resource Book Coaching Call Framework Coaching Conversation Model Coaching Notes Template
- [LF Leadership Council Resource Page](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/lf-leadership-council/) - LFLC Resource Page The LFLC helps provide four key resources that assist Leadership Foundations in providing the necessary resources, readiness, and relationships to support our members throughout the world. The four key resources LFLC members provide are: Strategic advice and support for the LF organization An annual gift to support the LF

## Landing Pages

- [2026 Network Gathering](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/2026-network-gathering/) - Dallas, TX 28 April - 1 May , 2026 Network Gathering & Board meeting Registration Deadline: Friday, 27 February Engage The time to gather for our Spring LF Network Meetings in Dallas, TX is right around the corner! We are thankful to Dallas Leadership Foundation for hosting this year’s Spring Meetings. LF Network members and Board of Directors
- [City As Playground Book](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/city-as-playground-book/) - Order Today

## Categories

- [Impact Stories](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/impact/) - Stories of Impact – examples of how Leadership Foundations is bringing about real and lasting change in cities throughout the world. City skyline during night time
- [Podcast](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/podcast/) - The City as Playground podcast regularly shares stories of impact, theological reflections, and invites both thought leaders and practitioners to reflect on urban change, both spiritual and social.
- [Annual Reports](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/annual-reports/) - On an annual basis, Leadership Foundations reports out to you, our supporters and constituents on the impact we’ve made through our global network of local Leadership Foundations.
- [Theology](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/theology/)
- [Spirituality](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/spirituality/)
- [Equity & Diversity](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/equity-and-diversity/) - Exploring equity and diversity in extending opportunity to the those most vulnerable and underrepresented in cities throughout the world. Leveraging our diverse network to create a model for women and people of color in leadership positions in the non-profit sector. Imagine a city where diversity, equity, and opportunity are at the center of its identity and lived experience—this is Leadership Foundations’ vision of how God sees the city—the city as a playground rather than a battleground, a place of shalom! Now imagine that community is a reality in the year of 2020. Leadership Foundations is uniquely positioned as a global platform where diversity, equity, and opportunity all intersect, becoming a catalyst for carrying out the vision of transforming cities into places of shalom. Leadership Foundations believes a diverse and inclusive network must emerge from the ground up. We prioritize diversity because we want to invest in and strengthen leadership from the cities where we work, and believe our leadership should mirror the diversity of those cities. This is not diversity for diversity’s sake, but for the sake of seeking real systems change to make our cities better. LF leaders are deeply embedded in cities in which they tirelessly work to transform. Through LF’s demonstrated commitment to empowering and resourcing those individuals and communities through leadership as servanthood. As a result our leadership is as diverse as the cities in which they work with 50% of all Presidents/CEO’s of Local Leadership Foundations people of color – a remarkably high percentage for the nonprofit sector. By comparison, in 2017 the Building the Movement Project distributed a survey to 4,000 leaders within the nonprofit sector to research the racial leadership gap. The results of this study show the percentage of people of color in the Executive Director/CEO role have remained under 20% for the last 15 years even as the country becomes more diverse. The Propel Project builds on our commitment to diversity as a value and as an opportunity to create room for new and existing leaders as a model for others. The project looks to address the underrepresentation of executives in the nonprofit sector by building a learning cohort of faith-based nonprofit organizations and leaders that desire to be catalysts in addressing ethnic/racial underrepresentation. Leveraging the learnings and assessments from the LF network that have attracted the current diversity of LF Presidents/CEO’s the project will have three key elements: Institutional Capacity Building, individual capacity building and leadership pipelines.
- [Community](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/community/)
- [Innovation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/innovation/)
- [Town Hall](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/town-hall/) - Leadership Foundation Town Hall recaps and recordings
- [COVID-19](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/covid-19/)
- [Uncategorized](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/category/uncategorized/)

## Tags

- [Podcast](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/podcast/)
- [India](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/india/)
- [COVID-19](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/covid-19/)
- [Community](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/community/)
- [Spirituality](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/spirituality/)
- [Youth](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/youth/)
- [Innovation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/innovation/)
- [Diversity and Equity](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/diversity-and-equity/)
- [Theology](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/theology/)
- [covid](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/covid/)
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- [development](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/development/)
- [pandemic](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/pandemic/)
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- [mentorship](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/mentorship/)
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- [family engagement](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/family-engagement/)
- [jackson leadership foundation](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/jackson-leadership-foundation/)
- [red door jackson](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/red-door-jackson/)
- [Family](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/family/)
- [Storytelling](https://www.leadershipfoundations.org/tag/storytelling/)