Lead for Impact
Leadership Development Program
- Are you deeply committed to ending homelessness in Montgomery County
- Do you see the challenges that are ahead of us and feel inspired to help develop innovative solutions to get more people housed?
- Are you ready to step more fully into your leadership? Do you want a more confident voice and greater influence on decisions made within your organization and our county?
- Do you dream of having dedicated time and space to strengthen your leadership? And, better yet, alongside a trusted council of peers?
If this sounds like you, then we invite you to apply for Lead for Impact -- an interactive peer leadership development program dedicated to growing and supporting more impactful, adaptable, connected, and collaborative leadership across the Montgomery County Continuum of Care.
Over the course of six months, you will engage deeply in your own leadership development. Through reflection, action, and interaction with others, you will gain valuable insights and immediately put them into action to expand your leadership effectiveness. You will work in the community with a small group of peers who share your vision of ending homelessness and are committed to supporting and challenging one another to up-level their leadership.
What's Involved
Meetings scheduled Fridays 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | June 25, July 23, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 5
If we are going to end homelessness in Montgomery County by 2023, we need effective leadership throughout the Continuum of Care -- from our direct services to our executive officers, and across the private sector and County government. This program is for anyone who is hearing the call to leadership and is ready to do their part to create impactful and sustained change for our community.
If this sounds like you, then please apply now! Your first step is to review these instructions on how to apply. Once you have prepared your application, submit it here.
Space is limited, and a selection process will be used to choose individuals who demonstrate a good fit for the program and will contribute to a generous and diverse program cohort. Application opens April 19th and must be received by May 14th. If you are selected to join the program, we will confirm your participation by May 21st.
In the meantime, please place a hold on your calendar for the session dates and times listed above. Having your full participation throughout the program is essential, and your ability to attend all of the sessions will be considered in your acceptance to the program.
If you have any questions, please email Ilana Branda, Deputy Chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, at Ilana.Branda@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Your work will be guided and supported by Jen Lachman, a seasoned leadership coach and facilitator who champions social change leaders and groups to make their greatest contribution towards a more just and equitable world. With a gift for creating spaces that nurture deep connections, build community, and spark powerful insights and actions, Jen has supported hundreds of nonprofit leaders working on a variety of issues including ending homelessness, affordable housings, LGBTQI rights, international peace building, racial equity, and more. Jen is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a graduate of Georgetown University's Executive Certificate Program in Organizational Consulting and Change Leadership.
Testimonials
Well one thing about the program when each and everyone of us came, I think no one knew what to expect. And within every person on the earth when you are born, you are born with certain gifts. I honestly believe that. And sometimes your gifts can become overshadowed by others. The program empowered us to burst loose and release our true leadership skill set that we really had. And we were able to talk about where we felt our weaknesses were. And then the program allowed us to step out of that zone, look at where you feel what you were missing within your leadership skills and empower you to bring that into commission where you could really shine and be the person you were always meant to be without feeling that you were being judged. Everybody’s skill set and where they are mentally is a little bit different. But everybody came to the table with an open mind and because we had an open mind we were able to absorb the program even more so and really kind of think about where you are and what you are doing. You said “Oh” like a little lighbulb goes off because you go away and think about it what you talked about and what someone said. Someone said something that really woke you up. The program is “Wake up, wake up. You can do this.” The program helps you to examine yourself.
Debra Wylie (she/her)
Program Coordinator
Holy Cross Hospital
"Lead for impact was an amazing opportunity to gain new insights and have challenging conversations with a group of incredibly talented people. I really appreciated that when things weren't my area of genius, there were other leaders in the group who supported me in helping achieve whatever challenges I was working on. I am so thankful to DHHS for the opportunity to grow as a leader."
Jen Schiller (she/her)
Chief Programs Officer
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
"This process has shown me a side of myself that other people have seen for a while. It gave me permission to be confident in who I am as a leader. And the sense of community and sharing that was developed through this program--I have never seen it in any program like this I've been through. I have already taken some leaps that I wanted to take in my leadership, and I'm ready to take more."
Priscilla Lissik (she/her)
Program Director
The Coordinating Center
