Pride Leadership Development Program | United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes

Leadership Development Program Applications will open in Spring 2025.

For more information, please email leadershipdevelopment@unitedwayrocflx.org

United Way’s Pride Leadership Development Program was established to identify, train, and promote the placement of LGBTQ+ Individuals on boards, committees, community projects, and policy-making positions in order to ensure the community and organizations are tapping the full potential of the LGBTQ+ community.

Nonprofit board members are often passionate about the objectives of the organization, but it takes more than passion to govern a nonprofit organization. Board members must understand their role within the organization, fundraising tools, and management techniques. As professionals in your field, this leadership training will help you become acclimated to your role as a volunteer, community leader, a board member and enhance your problem-solving skills.

2023 PLDP Class

Program Details

90-minute virtual orientation with a networking opportunity
Five-day in-person training from subject matter experts spanning over three weeks (for ELDP & PLDP programs only)
Eight-hour program sessions with workshops, simulations, and networking opportunities
Six curriculum topics include Board Leadership, Cultural Perspectives, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Leadership Self-Awareness, Leadership Wellness, Volunteer and Community Engagement
Graduation banquet and networking opportunity
Program Cost - $600 (includes all program perks, complimentary graduation tickets, continental breakfast, books and materials, provided lunch with alumni and invitation to United Way Volunteer and Board Fair, Access to Board Strong online matching program)

Program Schedule

Orientation (all programs): Wednesday, August 28 - 8:30 am - 10 am via Zoom session.

Graduation (all programs): Wednesday, December 11 - 4:30 - 7 pm

Program Sessions 8 AM - 4:30 PM

Tuesday, October 29, Tuesday, November 5, Wednesday, November 6, Wednesday, November 13, Friday, November 15

Volunteer and Board Fair

Thursday, June 13
4:30-7:00 PM

MCC Downtown Campus

321 State St, Rochester, NY 14608

United Way is excited to bring back the Volunteer and Board Fair to build strong, diverse boards and committees and volunteer opportunities to support regional organizations.

Learn More

It has been inspiring to learn about the struggles and fights that the LGBTQIA community has gone through to get to where we are today. I am also very inspired by the work that still needs to be done to support my community. This class has also provided me with the language and ideas needed to take action and make a difference. I can’t wait to be a leader in my community and to help make the future a better place.

I WANT TO HELP SUPPORT UNITED WAY'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Make a Donation

HAVE QUESTIONS? WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please email us at leadershipdevelopment@unitedwayrocflx.org

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR

MANY THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP OF THE PLDP STEERING COMMITTEE

Katelyn Freeman
Together Now

Keith Jensen
Empire Justice Center

Brianna Milon
Action for a Better Community

Carla Quackenbush
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Shannon Robb
Together Now

Victor Sanchez
University of Rochester

Sean Watson
University of Rochester

Celebrating Our Alumni

A

Julia Acosta 2015
Dennis Adey 2021
Leslie A. Alvarado 2016
Sady Y. Alvarado-Fischer 2015
Carol A. Antinore 2015

B

Lisa A. Ball 2018
Brian Michael Bartlett 2019
Nathan Bense 2021
Paul D. Birkby 2015
Andrew J. Blythe 2018
Colleen E. Bober 2019
Donna C. Burke 2019

C

Maura Chmielowiec 2023
Lisa M. Cichocki-Lalka 2016
Donna Cohen 2019
Jessica L. Cohen 2019
Chloe S. Corcoran 2018
Sim Covington, Jr. 2020
Allie Renee Cowie 2019
Dr. John P. Cullen 2015

D

Adrian Dejesus 2015
Michelle L. DeVito 2015
Janet Donner 2015
Kaitlyn A. Dreeson 2019
James Dukette 2018

E

Carol M. Ebersole-Weiss 2016
Christopher Emerson 2023
Kellie J. Engelmeier 2019

F

Jamie Fazio 2016
Nyles Flint 2023
Donna Forsyth 2015
Christiney J. Fraguada 2020
Andrew Freeman 2020

G

Benjamin M. Garcia 2021
Dina Giovanelli 2016
Frank M. Giudice 2022
Greer Gladney 2016

H

Marie Halpin 2016
Katelyn C. Hamilton 2021
Kathleen A. Hart 2016
Brian Henderson 2023
Erica Henderson 2019
S.M. Darling Hernandez 2020
Timothy James Xavier Hill 2019
Shealynn R. Hilliard 2022
Megan Honeck 2020
Jonathan Hoose 2015

J

Keith Jensen 2022
Kamryn Jerrel 2020
Samuel Jett 2018
Paul G. Johnston 2022
Nia N. Jones 2019
Jonathan Jordan 2020
Dr. Matthew P. Juda 2018

K

William H. Kelly Jr. 2015
Meredith M. Kipp 2016
Mara E. Kouides 2019

L

Cristy Lee 2023
Rudolph Lott Jr. 2020

M

Marcia A. Maar 2016
Kristen A. MacKay 2016
Scott R. MacPherson 2016
Sarah N. Mangan 2022
Shira M. May 2015
Laurel McCarthy 2022
Jonathan J. Meagher-Zayas 2021
Lauren R. Merklinger 2016
Nathaniel Mich 2019
Brianna Milon 2023
Dr. Lauryn T. Minter 2020
Loren M. Montrallo 2021
Andrew S. Moran 2019

N

O

P

Gregory Palatas 2018
Evelyn Parker 2015
Annemarie Pawlowski 2021
Damita Peace 2016
Manuel Pena 2016
Eric H. Phamdo 2018
Lauren T. Picariello 2020

Q

R

Colleen M. Raimond 2015
Coriander W. Rainbeaux 2019
Cheri A. Reed-Watt 2019
Kayla Rizzo 2023
Shannon Robb 2021
Analisa Rogers 2016
Samantha Rychlicki 2023

S

Jennifer J. Sahrle 2021
Victor H Sanchez 2018
Victor Antonio Santiago 2018
Joseph L. Searles Jr. 2015
Bonnie Smith 2023
Chanel Snead 2022
Susanna L. Speed 2020
Ann M. St. Rose 2015

T

Sarah Thompson 2022
Brenda Thorpe 2020
Nelida I. Torres 2020

U

V

Vilma L. Vendrell 2020
Necole M. Vitale 2018

W

Mark D. Wagner 2015
Todd M. Waite 2016
Samuel R. Waters 2018
Sean Patrick Watson 2022
Bess Watts 2016
Jessica L. Wilkie 2016
Justin V. Wilson 2016
Cara Wood 2018
Jennifer Woodring 2023
Emma Woodward 2016