MISSION STATEMENT
The Environmental Leadership Program inspires visionary, action oriented and diverse leadership
to work for a just and sustainable future.
WHAT WE DO
The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) nurtures a new generation of environmental
leaders characterized by diversity, innovation, collaboration, and effective communications.
ELP addresses the needs of relatively new environmental activists and professionals by:
- Connecting them with peers through regional and national networks;
- Providing training and other learning opportunities to develop their leadership capacity;
- Linking them with experienced environmental leaders through substantive interactions and mentoring opportunities;
- Offering activity grants and technical support to help them implement innovative projects; and
- Focusing attention on the need for the environmental community to nurture the next generation of leaders.
THE ELP FELLOWSHIP AND REGIONAL NETWORKS
The Environmental Leadership Program's (ELP) Regional Networks are innovative programs designed to build the capacity of promising emerging leaders in designated regions across the United States.
By setting this regional model within a national framework, ELP invests in developing a vibrant community of environmental leaders within a given region, while at the same time joining members of the ELP community and the public in national conversation, debate and collaborative activities.
The Environmental Leadership Program currently operates three regional networks in the Delaware Valley (NJ, central and eastern PA, DE), New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT), and the Southeast (AL, GA, northern FL, NC, SC, and central and eastern TN). ELP plans to extend its regional network model across the country over the next 5-10 years.
ELP selects 20-25 exceptional emerging environmental leaders annually to participate in each regional fellowship program. ELP defines "emerging leaders" as practitioners who are relatively new to the environmental and social change fields with approximately three to ten years of experience. We define "environmental" broadly. ELP fellows work on everything from green business ventures, urban air quality, and land conservation to public policy, public health, and transportation-- and everything in-between. ELP fellows work throughout different sectors, in nonprofits, businesses, academia, media, and philanthropy, as well as federal, state, local and tribal government. Wherever they work, ELP fellows are passionate leaders for a just and sustainable future.
The ELP Fellowship and Regional Networks both combine a
strong peer network and intensive skills training with opportunities for mentoring, project
seed money, time for personal and professional reflection, and technical support. ELP Fellows and
Senior Fellows have access to an internal Activity Fund that allows them to pursue capacity building projects
to develop leadership skills and accomplish tangible results. Application are now being accepted for our New England Regional Network and our
Southeast Regional Network Southeast Regional Network. Applications for our Delaware Valley Regional Network will open on April 16th.
Additionally, through its newsletter and
network, ELP connects a broad audience of environmental professionals, promotes the voices
of emerging environmental leaders, and serves as an advocate for the need for leadership
development in the environmental field.
OUR VISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
ELP's plan of action is guided by strong convictions about the nature of leadership and needs for it within the environmental community.
We believe that:
- Inspired leadership is essential for political and social change. Ideas can have profound impacts, but it takes talented leaders to bring them to life and ensure they are implemented.
- Diversity is a crucial component of public leadership. Environmental leaders must themselves reflect the diversity of the country and be comfortable working with different types of people.
- Leadership begins with relationships and the personal skills needed to develop them. Our greatest impact will lie in the collective capacity of the network of relatively new professionals we are creating.
- Leadership skills are identifiable and teachable, related to but distinct from issue expertise.
- Public leadership relies on individuals daring to take carefully considered professional risks.
Guided by these principles, ELP is building a diverse community of promising future leaders and creating programs to support their development. ELP also connects emerging professionals to established environmental leaders whose knowledge and historical perspectives need to be shared with the next generation.
HISTORY
During 1997 and 1998, the organizers of the Environmental Leadership Program began developing
the program through extensive consultation with more than forty emerging and veteran
environmental leaders. Following two focus group meetings in Washington, DC, and Oakland,
CA, eleven individuals in their mid-twenties to early thirties--representing a range of
academic and professional niches, geographic areas, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds--
formed an organizing committee (now called the board of trustees) and staff to bring the
leadership program to life. In 1999, the organizing committee met and began working closely
with the advisory board (now called the advisory committee) to design program elements and
raise money.
In December 1999, ELP selected 22 individuals from across the United States for its inaugural class of ELP
Fellows. From 2000-2006 ELP selected a class of 20-25 emerging leaders for its National Fellowship Program.
In 2004 ELP developed a Regional Network Program to provide the same high quality programming to a specific
geographic area. ELP launched its first Regional Network in the Delaware Valley Regional Network (DVRN) where it
recruited fellows in Eastern Pennsylvania. The following year, the DVRN was expanded to encompass Eastern
Pennsylvania, Southern NJ and Delaware. Due to the success of the DVRN, ELP launched its second regional network
in the Greater Boston Area in 2006; and in 2007 the organization expanded once again by launching its third regional
network in the Southeast United States (AL, Northern FL, GA, NC, SC and Eastern TN).
In the winter of 2007, ELP's Board of Directors made the decision to discontinue the organizations flagship
national fellowship program in order to expand its regional network model on a national scale.
Also at that time, the Greater Boston Regional Network
was expanded to include all of New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI and VT) and renamed the New England Regional Network.
The DVRN was also expanded at the end of 2007 to include all of New Jersey.
ELP is currently embarking on a national expansion plan that will bring its unique leadership program and
network to all 50 states and the U.S. Territories.
To date, ELP has a Senior Fellowship (graduates of the fellowship program) of over 300 environmental and social change
leaders!
The board of trustees and staff meet regularly to design ELP's program
components and plan for future initiatives. Because the ELP is a collaborative project that
builds community and peer networks through its organizational development, ELP Fellows and
Senior Fellows take an active role in shaping the organization and its programs.
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