East Side Women Leaders Initiative

Women leaders are critical for a healthy community. Women in leadership need spaces for connection, reflection, sharing and learning together. These spaces decrease the isolation and burnout that many women face - especially women who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color. The East Side Saint Paul Women Leaders Initiative is a leadership development cohort created to meet these needs.

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 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. As women, we often see a need in our community and step in to meet those needs. Consider applying if you are someone who is:

Working to strengthen your neighborhood or the East Side community
Bringing people together to take action in the East Side community
Playing a leadership role in your organization on the East Side

Cohort Activities

The East Side Saint Paul Women Leaders Initiative cohort offered by Rooted Philanthropic and facilitated by the Courageous Change Collective is designed in response to the voices of women leaders on the East Side of Saint Paul. These women were hungry for a space that would offer wellness activities, networking opportunities and leadership skill-building.

Participants in the cohort will have an opportunity to help shape the cohort experience and content. Cohort activities will take place October 2024 – August 2025 and will include:

Launch Gathering will kick-off our cohort journey and gather participant feedback about program design. – Thursday, October 10th from 5:30-7:30pm
Regular Cohort Gatherings focused on relationship building and peer learning – 2 hours in length – Frequency TBD
Midyear Weekend Retreat – Friday, January 24th at 6pm to Sunday, January 26th Midday – Location TBD
Financial Resources to support each cohort participant’s personal leadership development – $3,000 per participant

There is no cost to join, please complete this brief application by September 22, 2024.

Applicants will be selected the week of September 30th.

If you have questions, please contact [email protected]