Grassroots Leadership Development Institute Logo

GLDI Class of 2024

Each year, dedicated individuals are selected to participate in the seven-month leadership training program. The GLDI Class of 2023 graduation was held at the Robert H. Chapman III Center for Philanthropy on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

The application window for the GLDI Class of 2024 has closed.  Participants will be notified in February 2024. The opening retreat will be held in April.

What is the GLDI?

The Grassroots Leadership Development Institute is an intense seven-month leadership training program designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skill-set, and resources to be effective in leading change throughout the greater Spartanburg County community and beyond. Developed as a part of Strengthening Voices, the program is designed to empower the community to assume responsibility for positive social change and equip them with the tools needed to make a difference. The Grassroots Leadership Development Institute has become a nationally recognized best-practice model that continues to garner interest from groups throughout the country.

CF GLDI Graduation2019-118

Participants meet one Saturday a month March through August to increase their ability to make a positive difference on the local, regional, and national levels. Since its inception in 2004, more than 340 individuals have graduated from the Institute and currently serve the community in various leadership roles.

Participants come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Each class is comprised of predominantly grassroots individuals who desire to make positive social change in their neighborhoods. Participants also include emerging nonprofit and mainstream leaders actively working to strengthen their individual and organizational effectiveness.

Grassroots Leadership Development Institute participants are equipped with a solid skill-set that better enables them to:

  • Lead community improvement throughout the city, county, state, and nation;
  • Increase levels of communication and understanding between grassroots individuals and mainstream leaders;
  • Effectively organize people for positive outcomes;
  • Think strategically to create innovative solutions to address community needs;
  • Serve on non-profit and for-profit boards; and
  • Leverage community assets and resources.

For more information, please contact Tara Weese, Project Manager for the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute and the Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association.

ALUMNI – Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association

Grassroots Leadership Development Institute graduates are invited to become members of the Alumni Association.  If you are interested in learning more about GLAA plans to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of  GLDI, CLICK HERE.

The purpose of the Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association (GLAA) is to continue to engage Institute graduates by creating opportunities for networking and collaboration, connecting alumni to leadership positions within the community, keeping them informed of pressing community needs, and providing continued leadership training.

The GLAA holds at least four leadership training sessions and networking events per year. Additionally, the Alumni Association keeps alumni connected and informed using email, social media, and e-newsletters.

The Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association is open to all graduates of the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute. The annual membership fee is $25. To become a GLAA member, please complete this form and submit along with membership fees.

Alumni maintain strong ties through an email contact group and the GLAA Facebook Page.

ALUMNI EVENTS

The Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association events are open to all Grassroots Leadership Development Institute Alumni and are free to all Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association members. A fee of $15 per event will be charged to alumni who are not members of the alumni association. View the Events Schedule here.