Support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, The Helios Foundation and the Central Florida Foundation will fund tuition for all participants for the first three years of the program.
Thanks to new support from the Wells Fargo Foundation and The Helios Foundation as well as a donation from an anonymous fundholder at the Central Florida Foundation, the Black Boardroom Leadership Institute (BBLI) will be offered at no cost to participants for the first three years of the program.
“Helios Education Foundation is proud to join Wells Fargo and the Orlando Economic Partnership to celebrate Black Boardroom Leadership Institute graduates,” says Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.
“These community leaders will not only enhance diversity among Central Florida’s nonprofit boards, they will help foster a culture of Black leadership.”
Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation
BBLI, the Orlando Economic Partnership’s (the Partnership) transformational programto help grow a talent pipeline of black leaders and drive change on nonprofit boards in the Orlando region, consists of two leadership training tracks. The first track, which completed in July, is designed to help current nonprofit executive leadership focus on culture change, inclusion and board diversification.
The second, Leadership Track, which launched in June, focuses on authentic leadership, board governance and future board placement for Black community leaders. Participants gain foundational knowledge in board governance and opportunities to discover motivators and cultural qualities that empower them.
“Wells Fargo continues to enhance its advocacy for diversified leadership and is thrilled to join the OEP’s BBLI efforts in fostering opportunities for minority leaders.”
Derek Jones, Central Florida Regional Banking Director at Wells Fargo
“We look forward to supporting the program’s growth and impact in the community and beyond,” says Derek Jones, Central Florida regional banking director at Wells Fargo and Executive Committee member at the Orlando Economic Partnership.
With only 11 percent of local boards represented by Black leaders, BBLI was created through honest conversation and idea generation of committed community leaders to address the significant diversity gap amongst Orlando’s nonprofit board of directors.
“Through BBLI, our goal is to empower people and nonprofits in our region to create a more inclusive culture.”
Tim Giuliani, President and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership
“The support of the Central Florida Foundation, The Helios Foundation and Wells Fargo Foundation is a signal to the need for and importance of this program. We are grateful they each raised their hand to support,” says Partnership president and CEO Tim Giuliani.
You can learn more about BBLI by visiting Orlando.org/bbli.
