The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBW), Metropolitan Nashville Chapter has announced the establishment of a leadership development certification program in collaboration with Belmont University designed to train and prepare African American women for leadership service on nonprofit, government and corporate boards.
The new initiative, which will operate through Belmont University’s College of Business Administration, strives to develop and market competent, qualified and committed professional business women of color to help them gain access and share their skill sets to help organizations reach their full potential. In addition to the 100 Black Women and Belmont, several other supporting organizations have signed on to the effort, including the Nashville Coalition of 100 Black Women Foundation, Inc., Meharry Medical College, HCA and members of the national leadership arm of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Incorporated.
“This effort has been several years in the making and we are very excited about the development of a program like this which has so much value in shaping the diversity and perspective of board leadership,” said Veronica Marable-Johnson, president of NCBW Nashville. “We seek to create a resource for organizations seeking well-trained and knowledgeable black women who are ready to contribute to the overall management, growth and success of organizations.”
The certification program will have three tiers focusing on nonprofit leadership, government and corporate leadership and provide an introduction to the basics of board service, governance, strategic planning and overall responsibilities. The first module of the program will be launched in fall 2013.
“The College of Business Administration at Belmont University is proud to partner with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the Metropolitan Nashville Chapter to create a leadership development program that will prepare African American women to serve and assume leadership roles on corporate, government and nonprofit boards. The competencies emphasized in the program will enhance every aspect of a potential board member’s skill set for board service, from time management to strategic thinking,” said Belmont’s College of Business Administration Dean, Pat Raines.
The African American Women on Boards Certification Program with Belmont will be used as a model for board governance that may expand to NCBW chapters across the country, according to NCBW National President, M. Delois Strum.
“NCBW’s national leadership applauds the work of our Nashville chapter to launch its partnership with Belmont University and bring about a branded program of leadership training of members and constituents to successfully serve on local and regional boards as change agents, and represent the voice of African American women in the metropolitan Nashville community,” said M. Delois Strum, NCBW national president. “We look to this effort of the NCBW Nashville Chapter as a future model to be exported to other NCBW chapters in support of our national mission to elevate the voice and profile of black women as leaders and key influencers on governmental, civic, cultural and educational boards.”
