CDC Board Leadership Program
Program Overview
Our CDC Board Leadership Program is designed to strengthen the skills, knowledge, and confidence of board members serving Community Development Corporations across Massachusetts. Board members play a critical role in shaping their organizations' vision, ensuring accountability, and guiding long-term impact. This program provides practical training to help board members fulfill these responsibilities effectively. Their function is particularly critical in times of volatility in this sector, like we’re presently in.
Through a series of workshops led by experienced instructors, board members learn how to lead with confidence, make informed decisions, and foster collaboration within their organizations and communities. The program aims to includes both introductory and advanced topics so board members can build on their skills over time.
Program Goals
The main goal of this program is to help CDC board members become effective, informed, and confident leaders by ensuring board members gain the tools they need to shape the direction of their organizations, ensure financial and organizational health, and uphold equity and inclusion in all decisions. By supporting board members as leaders in building stronger communities, this program reflects the Mel King Institute’s commitment to providing learning opportunities that increase access, encourage innovation, and promote long-term success in the community development field.
Another key goal is to help boards center equity in their work, as a core value held by the Mel King Institute, MACDC, and our partners. The Non-Profit Leadership with an Equity Lens session offers concrete ways to build inclusive decision-making practices, recruit diverse board members, and evaluate programs and policies through a fairness and equity perspective. Ultimately, this program aims to strengthen the entire community development sector by empowering board members to guide their organizations with clarity, confidence, and accountability.
Program Instructors
Shirronda Almeida, Mel King Institute Director
Viana Nascimento, Mel King Institute Leadership Development Program Manager
Louise Elving, Viva Consulting Principal
Laurie Gould, Viva Consulting Principal
Attorney Elizabeth Reinhardt, Law Offices of Elizabeth S. Reinhardt and Associates, LLC
CDC Board Leadership Workshops
January 14: Introduction to Affordable Housing Finance for CDC Board Members
In this two hour workshop, Laurie Gould will give CDC board members a clear introduction to how affordable housing is financed in Massachusetts, with a focus on the key decisions and responsibilities that matter most for nonprofit developers.
February 9: Non-Profit Leadership with an Equity Lens
This interactive workshop, facilitated by our Leadership Development Program Manager, Viana Nascimento, equips non-profit board members with the tools to lead with an equity lens across all aspects of board service.
March 5: Introduction to Community Economic Development for CDC Board Members
This workshop is an exploration of contemporary community development and aims to provide CDC Board Members with an understanding of the work and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of this field and drive positive change within communities.