East Side Saint Paul Women Leaders Initiative Launches Second Cohort
Despite significant progress in gender equality, women in leadership continue to encounter a range of barriers that hinder their advancement and influence. Isolation and burnout are two of the biggest challenges these women face, along with a lack of access to mentors or networking opportunities and representation which allows them to see themselves in leadership roles. For women of color, these challenges are exacerbated by cultural expectations that women must care for their families, their communities, their livelihoods before they care for themselves. Systemic and cultural challenges remain deeply rooted.
The leadership journey can be challenging, especially for women navigating these barriers. A cohort model—where a group of women advance through a leadership experience together—has proven to be an effective approach for building confidence, connection, and long-term success. That is why in late 2024, Rooted Philanthropic developed and launched the East Side Saint Paul Women Leaders Cohort Initiative. This initiative was realized through the voices of East Side leaders who shared with us the many struggles they experience and the isolation they feel as they work to strengthen their communities. These women were hungry for a space that would offer wellness activities, networking opportunities and leadership skill-building.
The Foundation engaged Courageous Change Collective to help shape and facilitate the cohort experience. Sixteen women were selected from a pool of over 40 applicants. The cohort began meeting in October. Over the year-long experience, the women met monthly sharing a meal and engaging in conversation and learning, participated in a weekend retreat, interacted with a set of women leaders, and built a network of other women on varying points in their own leadership journey. Each participant also received $3,000 to support aspects of leadership growth for themselves.
For many of the women, the experience was profound and life changing. As one participant explained:
“I began this journey with limited beliefs that were holding me back. I felt a lot of guilt for setting boundaries and taking time to take care of myself. Being surrounded by women, especially those who work/live/grew up in the Eastside, gives me a sense of belonging and connection. My resilience does not have to carry me alone. I have a community that backs me up and that I can look to for guidance.”
Much was learned from the first cohort of women. Specifically, the women wanted more time together and more opportunities to connect and network. They wanted more flexibility with the leadership funds to allow for a greater range of activities that could help them grow, feel healthier and sustain themselves in their work and communities. They wanted more built-in accountability to ensure full participation of all members and to see themselves as a community as well as individuals. Lastly, they were hungry for more connections with leaders outside the group who could share lessons, strategies and opportunities for continued growth.
A New Cohort is Launched
The Foundation and Courageous Change Collective are currently recruiting for a second year-long cohort that will launch in January 2026. A cohort of 12 women will be selected from the applicant pool. All cohort members must work, live or own a business on the East Side of the City of Saint Paul. They must also be prepared to commit to the following set of cohort activities:
- A daylong retreat on February 7, 2026, to meet, connect and begin building the cohort activities.
- Monthly gatherings on Thursday evenings from 5-7:30pm, that will include dinner, conversation and learning.
- A weekend retreat Friday, April 24th through Sunday, April 26th, 2026, for reflection and connection as well as unstructured time for rest and rejuvenation. The retreat will be held off-site near the Twin Cities and will be residential.
- Beneficial use of a $3,000 fund to support Self-Development and Wellness.
If you are a woman leading on the East Side of Saint Paul who is seeking connection and community with other women leaders – please consider applying!
Who should apply?
All women leaders over the age of 18 whose leadership impacts the East Side of the City of St. Paul, either because you live or work (or both!) on the East Side, are invited to apply. We welcome all women and non-binary people who identify with womanhood to participate. BIPOC leaders are encouraged to apply. Our team will work to ensure that the cohort is a racially diverse, intergenerational group of women. We encourage folks to apply who have leadership experience, whether formal or informal. You don’t need to have an official title to be a leader.
There is no cost to join but you must complete an application by November 30, 2025. Selection of the cohort participants from all applications will occur in mid-December 2025.
The cohort will launch with a kick-off on Thursday, January 22nd from 5-7:30pm.
To learn more, click HERE