FALL 2026 COHORT

A six-session leadership experience grounded in the Belonging-Centered Leadership Framework.

Leadership is more than managing people or making decisions. It is the ability to understand yourself, build meaningful relationships, navigate differences, create belonging, and influence positive change. The Belonging-Centered Leadership Ecosystem defines leadership as a human-centered practice that develops people, transforms organizations, and strengthens communities by making belonging the foundation of leadership.

The BELONG Leadership Cohort is a six-session leadership development experience designed for leaders who want to create workplaces where people feel seen, valued, connected, and empowered to contribute their best.

Building on the conversations from the Leadership Lab Summit, this cohort moves beyond awareness into practice. Participants will strengthen their leadership through reflection, facilitated dialogue, practical application, and peer learning while developing the skills needed to lead with courage, humanity, and purpose.

This is not traditional DEIB training. It is a leadership journey that helps participants understand themselves, strengthen relationships, navigate complexity, and create cultures where belonging becomes part of everyday leadership.

Why This Cohort?

Many leadership programs focus primarily on technical skills while overlooking the human experience of leadership. At the same time, many DEIB initiatives emphasize awareness without providing practical tools for building stronger relationships, changing behaviors, and transforming organizational culture. The Belonging-Centered Leadership Ecosystem was created to bridge those gaps by integrating leadership development, emotional intelligence, relationships, belonging, equity, and organizational change into one cohesive approach.

Throughout the cohort, participants will move through a developmental journey that begins with self-awareness and expands toward creating meaningful change within teams, organizations, and communities.

Who Should Attend?

This experience is designed for leaders at every stage, including:

• Executive Leaders

• Managers & Supervisors

• Human Resources Professionals

• Organizational Development Practitioners

• Team Leads

• Educators

• Nonprofit Leaders

• Community Leaders

• Emerging Leaders committed to creating cultures of belonging

What You'll Experience

Over six interactive sessions, participants will:

• Deepen their self-awareness and leadership identity.

• Strengthen emotional intelligence and reflective leadership practices.

• Better understand organizational culture, systems, power, and equity.

• Learn practical strategies for creating psychologically safe and inclusive teams.

• Build confidence leading through conflict, tension, and difficult conversations.

• Develop a personalized leadership action plan grounded in belonging.

Every session includes:

• Facilitated dialogue

• Leadership reflection

• Small-group discussion

• Practical leadership frameworks

• Real-world case studies

• Peer coaching

• Between-session leadership practice

Fall Cohort Dates and Times and Topics

Virtual Lunch and Learn Sessions - 12 noon - 1:30 PM

Session 1: September 16 / Leading from Within (Self-Awareness & Identity)

Session 2: September 30 / Seeing the System (Power, Culture & Equity)

Session 3: October 14 / Leading with Intention (Bias, Decisions & Accountability)

Session 4: October 28 / Creating Cultures of Belonging (Inclusive Leadership)

Session 5: November 4 / Leading Through Tension (Courageous Conversations & Resilience)

Session 6: November 18 / From Insight to Impact (Leadership Action Planning)

*Nov 18th In-Person at EEA Offices (Coatesville). The cohort concludes with an immersive, in-person leadership experience where participants celebrate their growth, deepen peer connections, receive coaching, and refine their leadership commitments for the future.

Workshop Facilitators