We need A NEW Kind OF LEADER.
About New Leaders Council
New Leaders Council (NLC) is the hub for proximate leaders in America. We identify and elevate changemakers (local leaders rooted in their communities) through dynamic training, deep community, and national connection.
On average, 78% of the cohorts self-identify as BlPOC, 68% are women and gender non-conforming folx, and 39% report identifying as LGBTQIA* folx make up our 6-month NLC Institute Fellows that go on to be part of our network. NLC has curated and sustained a Community Leadership Movement of over 13,000 alumni over nearly two decades.
From the Newsroom
Learn more about the collective impact our community of changemakers is making across the country.
During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and powerful contributions of AANHPI leaders across the country. At New Leaders Council, our community includes changemakers who are shifting narratives, building inclusive systems, and leading with purpose. This month, we are proud to highlight three NLC alumni who are creating space, championing equity, and leaving their mark across sectors.
Read More →Karen Pandy-Cherry, from one NLC alum to another…Congratulations on being voted in as the President & CEO of New Leaders Council and its amazing network. It’s not just a title; it’s a reflection of the trust and deep admiration this community holds for you. And let me just say, it’s about time.
Read More →This June, New Leaders Council chapters across the country are showing up and showing out and you need to be in the room. Whether you’re an alum, a future Fellow, or someone who simply believes in the power of people, progress, and purpose, these events are where leadership and community collide.
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new kind of leader
NLC trains and connects the local changemakers who champion equity and fuel progress. We invest in those historically excluded from leadership pipelines, yet are best equipped to solve our nation’s most challenging issues.
new approach to leadership
Our Fellows practice a leaderful model in their cohorts, where collaboration breaks down silos across identity, issue, and industry. We build connective infrastructure across perspectives that expand resources for collective action.
New Leaders Council
This new way of leading expands capacity and support for equity movement leaders and systems change. NLC alumni are the driving force behind major cultural and electoral progress that takes years to build.
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.
Our 2025 Fellows Cohorts
Identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color
Identify as Women and Non-Binary
Work in the nonprofit, government, education, or healthcare industries
Our signature program creates a leaderful movement
NLC Institute is a six-month place-based learning environment, delivered across the country in each of our chapters and offered at no cost to participants. Our chapters work with national and local trainers to implement the program, providing a premier training experience and a strong grounding in the local community.
Invest in proximate leaders. Invest in NLC.
If we want to build the country we want to see, then we have to start by investing in leadership.