Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
There are Natural Leaders all around us.
Image by Margo Hittleman

NLI Grads Spring 2013

NLI Grads 2009
Image by Margo Hittleman

NLI Grads Spring 2009

Spring 2015 NLI Grads
Image by Margo Hittleman

NLI Grads Spring 2015

NLI Grads 2011
Image by Margo Hittleman

NLI Grads Fall 2011

new (2018) Natural Leaders Initiative logo

Natural Leaders are everywhere in our community!

Connection ... Community .... Impact

Supporting the passion, talent and impact of our community's emerging leaders

Building strong, diverse networks for change

Join NLI in 2018!


NLI Grads Spring 2017

Natural Leaders Groups

Know someone with good ideas, passion, commitment and talent? We can help them grow as community leaders.

Read more
Nominating a Natural Leader is easy. Start here ...

Nominate

Nominating a Natural Leader is easy. Start here ...

Read more
NLI Grad photo

Inclusive Leadership Development

NLI's Inclusive Leadership Institute, workshops, coaching, and consultations can help you foster authentic inclusion and better reach personal and organizational goals.

Read more
There are Natural Leaders all around us.

Growing Natural Leaders

Join local employers who are investing in talented Natural Leaders by sponsoring employees in NLI's Natural Leaders groups.

Read more

Last updated February 18, 2020

Natural Leaders Initiative

Coming Up!

MARCH 12 & APRIL 16: Cultivating Inclusive Leadership Workshop Series, Elmira, NY. Co-sponsored with CCE-Chemung, the Cornell Team & Leadership Center. Supported by Cornell's Office of Engagement Initiatives. Details and Registration

MARCH 19: Decision Making for the Inclusive Organization, Ithaca, NY. Presented by TC3Biz. Details and Registration

NLI In the News!

NLI program educator MIchele Jones talks about the Natural Leaders Initiative to "All Things Equal" podcast host Kate Supron. 

The Cornell Chronicle published a story about NLI co-founder and coordinator Margo Hittleman, quoting NLI Grad Tierra Labrada and highlighting NLI's inclusive leadership development programming.

Thanks to Our Supporters!

NLI's 2018-19 programming has been supported by the Women's Fund and Conneman Family Fund (both part of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County); the City Federation of Women's Organizations; Tompkins County; Greenstar Market's "Bring Your Own Bag" program; and many individual community members. We are deeply grateful to all. 

Support Grassroots Leadership Development!

Give Now button

Donations fully support NLI's Natural Leaders programming and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You may also send donations to NLI c/o CCE-Tompkins, 615 WIllow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850, or call 607 272-2292 to donate via credit card.


 

NLI Grads Speak

NLI's Mission

Building strong, inclusive, equitable and sustainable communities requires widespread civic participation, with diverse community leadership. Toward this end, the Natural Leaders Initiative:

  • supports, catalyzes and accelerates the growth of natural leaders, (particularly from communities of color, immigrant communities, and low/moderate-income communities),
  • assists organizations to strengthen their capacity to recognize, include, support and develop diverse community leadership, and
  • helps people to organize within and beyond their own networks and take collective action for systemic change.