Black History Month: Power Without Permission
Most cities love to talk about inclusion. These four New Leaders Council alumni actually do something about it. They’re changing…
NLC 2026 Fellows Announcement
Conference season is here and the energy is absolutely electric. Fall means business, and these conferences are where your next power…
From Texas to Tulsa: Immigration, Identity, and Power at NLC Summit
Conference season is here and the energy is absolutely electric. Fall means business, and these conferences are where your next power…
Community: Where Leadership Begins
NLC builds community power by bringing together local leaders who are closest to the challenges, and the possibilities, within their cities and states.
Our Fellows form deep, trust-filled relationships that break isolation, build belonging, and create the conditions for collective action.
This community is the cornerstone of our model: a place where leaders sharpen their purpose, expand their networks, and find the support they need to drive change that lasts.
Leadership: A New Model Rooted in Proximity
NLC trains generations to instill a new kind of leadership across the country. Leadership rooted in proximity, equity, and collective action.
Fellows and Alumni experience NLC as a bootcamp, rest stop, and town square, practicing the skills that build power for underrepresented individuals and communities.
This community of trust gives leaders the space to ideate, learn, and grow together. NLC develops, connects, and uplifts inclusive, cross‑sector leaders who strengthen our country through social and political change rooted in equity.
Movement: Building Power That Transforms Systems
The Community Leadership Movement is powered by more than 15,000 NLC alumni who are reshaping culture, policy, and systems in every sector.
Together, they form a national network of proximate leaders who share resources, mobilize across cities and states, and accelerate change that has taken years of persistence to build.
This movement expands the capacity of leaders advancing equity, and grows a nationwide ecosystem of alumni and national partners working together to transform our country through social and political change rooted in community.
Vanessa Garcia Polanco is the Federal Policy Director at the National Young Farmers Coalition, where she advances equity-driven food policy. She helped secure $300M for BIPOC-led land access projects and champions BIPOC leadership in agriculture. NLC helped her lead with strategy, sustainability, and purpose in her advocacy work.
Mark Martinez is a housing attorney at a statewide anti-poverty nonprofit, where he represents low-income tenants and advocates for stronger tenant protections and affordable housing policy. He works to shift the narrative around housing from a commodity to a human right. His NLC experience deepened his cross-sector collaboration, expanding coalitions for housing justice.
Kyle Gracey helps companies, governments, and nonprofits reduce risks from emerging technologies like AI and biosecurity. He advises on policy, strategy, and coalition building, and founded an international AI safety network. His NLC experience strengthened his leadership in building ethical, collaborative solutions to complex tech challenges.
Tamira Samuel is Co-Executive Director of Urban Leaders Fellowship, leading policy work with officials nationwide on healthcare, housing, mental health, and education equity. NLC strengthened her leadership, skills, and network, supporting her nonprofit work to build equitable communities through cross-sector collaboration.
Damarqio Williams is the Director of Operations at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan, where he leads initiatives that empower youth and strengthen communities across four counties. He is also the founder of Detroit Father, LLC, supporting and connecting fathers in Detroit. Mark integrates operational leadership with advocacy to uplift young voices and cultivate future leaders. His experience with New Leaders Council has been a game-changer, providing an ongoing network of support, fresh ideas, and collaborative opportunities that have expanded the impact of his mentorship and advocacy work.
