Join the Award-Winning Leadership Accelerator Program!
The Spring 2025 cohort is now open for registration.
Are you a community leader or influencer with a passion for making a difference in your community? Are you looking for support, training, and resources to help take your project, organization, or business to the next level? Do you want to connect with like-minded leaders and find a community of support and encouragement? Look no further!
What Is the Leadership Program
The Blackshires Community Leadership Academy and Fellowship Program is our flagship initiative, dedicated to cultivating BIPOC leaders who are prepared to serve on municipal boards and committees, enhancing regional diversity, representation, and equity. Recognized with the prestigious 2023 “Breaking the Mold” Trendsetter Award from 1Berkshire, our program strategically combines leadership training, business and workforce development, and impactful civic engagement.
Our Proven Impact:
Over the past three years, we’ve graduated over 40 cohort members, distributed over $100,000 in fellowship and completion grants, and provided extensive coaching, technical skills training, and network resources to our participants, building a powerful pipeline of transformative community leaders.
Structured around three impactful phases:
Phase 1: Leadership and Personal Development
Leadership retreats and weekly skill-building workshops.
Phase 2: Business, Workforce, and Project Development
Community exposure tours, civic engagement training, and comprehensive Impact Charter creation.
Phase 3: Implementation and Launch Strategies
Mobilizing partners, funding, resource development, and practical pathways to sustainable success.
Program Goals
Open the pipeline
Build and empower a network
Build and empower a network of community leaders to collaborate and cooperate around community-based projects and a centralized Black agenda.
Provide a platform for change
Provide the Berkshire Black community with a platform to give voice to the barriers, challenges, ideas, strategies, and solutions for inclusiveness and equitable resource distribution at the decision-making tables of nonprofits, such as boards, committees, and executive positions.
Develop strategies and tools
Provide tools and resources that will assist Black community members who are interested in serving on nonprofit boards.
Building Cooperative Infrastructure
Identify and eliminate racialized barriers that deter the Berkshire Black community from serving on nonprofit boards.
Interested in joining us?
Program
Features
Interested in being a part of the program?
Who is this for?
Ideal Participants
The Blackshires Leadership Accelerator is for Black community members who want to make a difference in their community and are looking for resources, funding, and support to achieve their goals. This program is ideal for:
- Individuals and organizations who have ideas on how to improve issues in their community and want to take action to make a positive impact.
- Individuals who see themselves as leaders or potential leaders in their community and want to develop their skills and gain the support they need to make a real difference.
- Black community members who have business ideas they want to develop and bring to fruition
- Black community members who are seeking funding and resources for their initiatives and want to connect with other leaders and organizations in the community.
If you’re passionate about making a difference in your community and are ready to take the next step, then The Blackshires Leadership Accelerator is for you!
Ready to join the program?
What’s in it for you?
Program Benefits
The Blackshires Leadership Accelerator offers a unique opportunity for community leaders and influencers to develop their skills and make a real impact in their communities. With a stipend of $1700, our program provides comprehensive support and training, including:
- Community-based training and cohort support: Learn from other leaders and gain valuable insights and strategies to take your project, organization, or business to the next level.
- Leadership development: Develop the skills and strategies you need to be a successful leader and make a real impact in your community.
- Networking and connections: Connect with local Black leaders and organizations, as well as power players and decision-makers in the community.
- Arts, business, and community projects: Take tours around the Berkshires to learn about the different aspects of the community and gain a deeper understanding of the issues and opportunities in your area.
- Celebration and fun: Our program includes events and activities that celebrate the community and help you connect with other leaders in a fun and relaxed setting.
- Ongoing coaching and technical support: Even after the program ends, you’ll have access to ongoing coaching and technical support to help you continue to develop your skills and achieve your goals.
Join us, and let’s work together to make a difference in our communities!
Testimonials
Chynna Williams
“Being a part of the Blackshires Leadership Cohort has been an incredibly empowering experience. As a Black business owner, connecting with other like-minded entrepreneurs has been invaluable. The cohort created a space where we could share our unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs, offering both inspiration and practical advice. The sense of community was immediate, and being surrounded by individuals who understand the nuances of operating a business while navigating the specific obstacles we face as Black entrepreneurs was incredibly affirming.”
Natale M
Build and empower a network of community leaders to collaborate and cooperate around community-based projects and a centralized Black agenda.
Luana Dias David
“I am writing this to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible experience I had in the Leadership Accelerator Program. As a recent graduate, I can confidently say that this program has been a game changer in my career and the best startup I could have for my business. The comprehensive curriculum, the dedicated mentors, and the supportive community you have fostered have exceeded my expectations in every way. The skills I have acquired, the insights I have gained, and the connections I have made will undoubtedly propel me forward in my professional journey. Your commitment to fostering leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth is truly inspiring. BLACKSHIRES LEADERSHIP ACCELERATOR PROGRAM has made a profound impact on my life, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunities you have provided. To anyone considering participating in the Leadership Accelerator Program, I cannot recommend it highly enough. BLACKSHIRES is an Nonprofit organization that genuinely cares about the success and well-being of our BIPOC leaders and community, and the positive impact they have in Berkshire is immeasurable. Thank you once again for everything. I am excited to apply what I have learned and continue to grow with the support of the incredible BLACKSHIRES FOUNDATION.”
Andre Lynch
Provide tools and resources that will assist Black community members who are interested in serving on nonprofit boards.
Building Cooperative Infrastructure
Identify and eliminate racialized barriers that deter the Berkshire Black community from serving on nonprofit boards.
Want to connect with other leaders?
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
The program will begin March 13th-14th, 2025, and will kick off at the Berkshire Innovation Center.
The program will run for 10-15 weeks, ending in May with a community convening and idea jam to reflect on the experience and create a strategic plan for the future.
We are accepting 10-15 participants into the program.
You can apply online at our website Blackshires.net/Leadership.
No, the program is completely free for selected participants! Plus, we will even provide a $1,700 stipend, as well as all meals and transportation.
The program will include various activities such as retreats, biweekly Zoom training and workshops, site visits to events, and more. We also encourage you to bring any current projects or project ideas to the program, as we will have facilitators with technical expertise to assist you.
No specific qualifications or experience are required, but the program is designed for individuals who want to make a difference in their communities.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow as a leader and make a real impact! Apply now at Blackshires.net/Leadership. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Our Sponsors & Partners
We couldn't do it with our our amazing partners.
Who We Are
We’re a community-focused organization led by people of color, here to empower and enrich the Black community in the Berkshires and surrounding areas. By creating the Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation, our goal is to help build a strong and healthy economic ecosystem while also providing community empowerment opportunities for current and future leaders and organizations. We understand the struggles and frustrations that many in our community face, and our cooperative framework is designed to help develop the skills and capacities needed to create a vibrant and resilient network of support. So come join us and let’s work together to create a brighter future for our community!
