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ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

VISION

We believe in the power of grassroots leadership but know that too often these brilliant leaders do not get a seat at the table. Through the power of development, support, and affirmation, we aim to create a more equitable and community-representative pool of talent by investing in the growth of historically marginalized leaders. The Kanada Fellowship identifies industry and community leaders and provides them with the tools to scale equitable change for our communities.

MISSION

The Kanada Fellowship empowers professionals from Metro Detroit to become strategic leaders at work and in their communities by providing them with the tools needed to enact even greater change.

Through a nine-month initial fellowship experience, participants gain development and support that helps them envision, chart out, and act on their next level of service, leadership, and impact. In addition, fellows are affirmed through connections with other grassroots leaders who are serving, leading, and thriving - locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

 

THE LEGACY OF JAMES KANADA

James Kanada, the “First Black Frontiersman,” escaped slavery in Mississippi and settled in Detroit. In 1865, Kanada formed a settlement near what is now Puritan Avenue and was the lone black frontiersman in the area. Though he faced discrimination and sabotage from his neighbors, Kanada persevered and grew his farm from 15 acres to 25 acres by 1880. Kanada maintained his farm until his death from tuberculosis in 1885.

The Kanada Fellowship celebrates the legacy of James Kanada--a pioneer--and lifts up the resiliency, tenacity, innovation, and leadership capacity that he exemplified throughout his lifetime. This same spirit can be found in those who continue to be marginalized today through evolved systems.

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FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE

Through monthly intensive sessions, fellows will engage in development activities and connect with other leaders from across Metro Detroit. Each fellow will also be provided with a one-on-one coach and will collectively work together to produce a capstone event with a cohort budget of $5,000.

Curriculum content will include:

  • Kickoff + Orientation: During the program kickoff and orientation, fellows will have the opportunity to meet each other, begin building community amongst the cohort, process and internalize the fellowship components and expectations, and also get their headshots taken in preparation for the cohort announcement.

  • Workshops: Workshops will take place on a monthly basis over the 9-month fellowship experience.  Workshop content will address the core components of the Kanada Fellowship Curriculum.

  • Fireside Chats: Fireside chats will feature an intimate, facilitated conversation with a local, regional, or national leader focused on one of the Four Pivots in Leadership discussed by Dr. Shawn Ginwright in his book, The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves.

  • Executive Coaching: Each Kanada fellow will participate in regular executive coaching to develop and begin executing on their personalized professional development plan.

  • Capstone Project: Kanada fellows will be provided with a $5,000 budget to work together to execute a culminating, capstone project at the end of their fellowship experience, designed to give them an opportunity to practice the skills they have sharpened throughout the fellowship while also meeting a genuine community need and engaging the broader SCP network.

  • Quarterly Alumni Mixer: Each quarter, current fellows will have the opportunity to attend a social event along with other current participants and alumni of SCP equity initiative programs in order to build connections and create more authentic opportunities for collaboration between leaders across our network.

  • Personal Brand Development: Fellows will be supported in continuing to build their personal brand through support in writing an op-ed focused on an issue central to their work and through social media and branding technical assistance.

  • Leadership Development: Fellows will have the opportunity to expand their leadership through executive coaching and access to other leadership opportunities across the SCP network, including facilitating workshops, collaborating with community organizations, networking with leaders across the city and country, and more.

  • Access to Programming & Coworking Space: All Kanada Fellows will have access to the Strategic Community Partners Offices for weekly coworking, meeting, and programming space.  Coworking, meeting, and programming space will be provided at no cost to fellows for the duration of the fellowship experience, however, fellows must schedule to reserve the space ahead of time following the schedule below.

    • Coworking Logistics: Wednesday and Fridays weekly, 10:00 am-4:00 pm 

    • Conference room/main space bookings for meetings and programming:

      • Monday-Friday: 5 pm-10 pm 

      • Wednesdays & Friday: 9am-5pm 

      • Saturdays: 9am-8pm

      • Sundays: 12pm-8pm

PROGRAMMING TIMELINE

Workshops

  • Saturday, November 18, 2023: Fellowship Launch - Kickoff + Headshots 

  • Saturday, January 20, 2024: Workshop 1 - Defining Your Personal Values & Mission 

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024: Workshop 2 - The Power of Storytelling/Your Voice

  • Saturday, April 6, 2024: Workshop 3 - A Seat at the Table/The Unicorn

  • Saturday, May 11, 2024: Workshop 4 - The Village: Capstone Introduction & Planning

  • Saturday, June 15, 2024: Workshop 5 - Continued Capstone: Investing Others in Your Vision

  • Saturday, July 13, 2024: Workshop 6 - Event Planning + Capstone Coworking Support


Fireside Chats

  • Wednesday, January 31, 2024: Pivot 1 - Awareness: From Lens to Mirror 

  • Wednesday, March 20, 2024: Pivot 2 - Connection: From Transactional to Transformative 

  • Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Pivot 3 - Vision: From Problem to Possibility 

  • Wednesday, July 31, 2024: Pivot 4 - Presence: From Hustle to Flow

STAY CONNECTED

Subscribe to the SCP newsletter to stay connected with future opportunities and to be notified when candidates for the 2023-2024 Kanada Fellowship have been selected.

For additional questions and inquiries about the Kanada Fellowship, please contact info@strategiccommunitypartners.org