The Leadership Consortium Student Leadership Initiative

 The Leadership Consortium (TLC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1999 and incorporated in 2002, has a vision to promote leadership development within African American, Hispanic, and other communities of color. With a history of impactful programs and initiatives, TLC seeks to enhance the skills and capacities of individuals through professional training, career development, and instruction aimed at fostering leadership and community involvement. 

Michael Kelly, one of the driving forces behind TLC, was pivotal in establishing the Community Alliance for Black Student Support, which later evolved into the Sankofa Leadership Institute in collaboration with Arizona State University. This program focused on recruitment and retention of African American students, underscoring Kelly’s long-standing commitment to Black empowerment in Arizona. He also contributed to key community initiatives like the Arizona Black Film Showcase, the Arizona Black Expo, and the Linking Sports and the Community project. Additionally, Kelly co-founded the Black Philanthropy Initiative at the Arizona Community Foundation, promoting greater charitable engagement within the African American community. 

In 2018, TLC, led by Kelly, launched the Black Brown and College Bound Program, in collaboration with Phoenix College Depot and the AKA Sorority, which significantly increased scholarship opportunities for African American and Hispanic students. 

TLC’s flagship initiative, the Arizona Delegation to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), first organized in 2014 with support from then-Councilwoman (now Mayor) Kate Gallego, has grown into a vital program for leadership development. Today, the 2024 Arizona Delegation boasted 137 participants, including leaders from various sectors—legislators, corporate executives, medical professionals, educators, and students from local colleges and universities. This event showcases the collective strength and future leader-ship potential of Arizona’s African American community. 

As Councilmembers, Kevin Robinson and Kesha Hodge Washington mentioned, In 2024, TLC expanded its outreach by launching the Leadership Consortium Student Leadership Institute, (TLC-SLI) aimed at empowering students from diverse institutions, including Arizona State University, South Mountain Community College, the University of Arizona, and Tulsa Community College. TLC-SLI provided comprehensive support for 18 students, one alumni and their chaperones to attend the CBC in Washington, D.C. Over the past three years, 24 students attended the CBC sponsored by TLC. We are making progress. 

This year students engaged in a wide array of activities, including meeting with Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, attending the Kickoff Breakfast sponsored by SRP, Collegiate networking lunch sponsored by APS to honor Jean Fairfax, ASU CBC Reception at the O’Connor, Barrett Center in Washington, DC, a tour of Howard University, and other culturally enriching experiences such as visits to, the Capitol, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

As TLC continues to evolve, its efforts to revamp its website and implement succession planning reflect a forward-thinking approach to sustainability and future leadership development. The organization’s ongoing mission remains focused on cultivating the next generation of leaders, ensuring that hundreds of individuals—regardless of back-ground—can engage meaningfully with the CBC and other platforms for political, social, and economic advancement. 

TLC’s role in shaping leaders, fostering opportunities for students, and its ongoing collaboration with key partners demonstrates its vital contribution to the African American community and beyond. As the organization continues to grow, its impact will undoubtedly resonate across generations, ensuring the continued development of future leaders in Arizona and nationwide. 

The TLC-SLI will become the foundation for our CBC experience. Because it provides numerous opportunities for students to engage in leadership development, policy analysis, and advocacy through their internship and scholarship programs. These initiatives fit well with our mission to empower the next generation of leaders, particularly those committed to serving their communities. 

Scholarship Programs: 

CBCF offers over 300 scholarships annually, with awards ranging from $3,000 to $70,000. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate leadership through community service and academic achievement. 

Internship and Leadership Programs: 

While specific program names vary, CBCF internships prepare college students and young professionals for leadership roles in policy analysis, public service, and advocacy. These internships offer hands-on experience in shaping policies that impact African American and global Black communities. 

Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Opportunities: 

Students attending the ALC can benefit from: 

Engaging with Policy Issues: Participate in workshops and panels on critical topics like healthcare, education, and social justice, while connecting with lawmakers and experts. These experiences also demonstrate to the students firsthand how their emerging expertise can play a role in shaping the future of the US. 

Professional Development: Gain insights and skills to effectively advocate for change in their communities. Students also take advantage of broadening their professional networks in the unique environment of the ALC. The ALC is the largest convening of Black and African American elected officials, policymakers, and activists. In this environment, students are encouraged to build relationships with peers and mentors beyond their academic environments. The intentional inclusion of scholars from various stages of their professional journeys 2- and 4-year undergraduate program various stages of their professional journeys 2- and 4-year undergraduate programs, graduate programs, post-baccalaureates, postdocs, and faculty) enables peer, near-peer, and seasoned peer mentoring to occur both during and beyond the ALC. 

Cultural Celebration and Engagement: Student participants experience and celebrate the richness of Black culture through events, performances, and storytelling Visits to HBCUs and to the National Museum of African American History and Culture represent just two of the numerous activities that are available to them during this experience. 

Visibility and Involvement: Opportunities to volunteer or engage with both local and national organizations, sponsors, and/or exhibitors for future conferences. 

These programs and events provide a platform for students to not only further their education but also to gain experiential training and to directly influence and contribute to the advancement of policies impacting Black communities globally. 

Founders of the TLC-SLI

Dr. Corinice Wilson