by Jill Paulsen, program officer

Cleveland is a town where you can make a real difference. Where you can lead.

Just ask our 30 newly minted Ladder to Leadership fellows, participants in a joint initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Center for Creative Leadership.  The 16-month program is designed to develop the next generation of community health leaders. Cleveland is one of only eight regions across the nation to be selected for the program. The Cleveland Foundation is pleased to serve as the local sponsor.

Like its project partners, the Cleveland Foundation is committed to leadership development and improving the health of all our most vulnerable communities – where people are often economically disadvantaged and have inadequate access to health services. Through the Ladder to Leadership program, an impressive cohort of Cleveland health professionals will use face-to-face training sessions, individualized executive coaching and mentoring, and team project work to grow their leadership potential.

At a time when many folks often decry a dearth of Next Gen leaders, it’s up to us—and now our cohort of Ladder to Leadership fellows—to demonstrate that Cleveland’s got great “bench strength.” 

As I’m sure the Ladder to Leadership program will show, there are new leaders throughout the sector, and in this case, specifically at our community health organizations, who are open to change, willing to improve their skills, ready to take on new responsibilities, and excited to learn from their peers/elders. Indeed, we all must be if we want to improve our community.  

We’re pleased and fortunate to partner with the Center for Creative Leadership and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to offer the Ladder to Leadership program in Cleveland.  Be sure to check back soon for updates on the program and the progress of its 30 fellows.

Congratulations to Cleveland’s Ladder to Leadership fellows:

Chip Bonsutto, Catholic Charities

Keith Brown, Benjamin Rose Institute

Michael Byun, Asian Services in Action

Darilynn Cardona-Beiler, AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland

Therese Conner, Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential

Jenice Contreras, Care Alliance Health Center

Laurel Domanski-Diaz, Neighborhood Family Practice

Natalie Friedl, Community Assessment and Treatment Services

Jeanine Gergel, North Coast Health Ministry

Lena Grafton, St. Vincent Charity Hospital

Habeebah Grimes, Positive Education Program

Martha Halko, Cuyahoga County Board of Health

Yvonka Hall, Cleveland Office of Minority Public Health

Eileen Koch, Center for Families & Children

Carol Levanoff, Achievement Centers for Children

Kirsti Mouncey, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

Kate Nagel, Cleveland Clinic

Sean Shacklet, Alzheimer’s Association–Cleveland Chapter

Marlene Shivak, Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve

Sharon Shumaker, PLAN of Northeast Ohio

Diane Solov, MetroHealth System

Susan Tager, New Directions

Jassen Tawil, Cleveland Sight Center

Tara Taylor, YMCA of Greater Cleveland

Teleange Thomas, City of Cleveland Public Health Department

Heather Torok, Recovery Resources

Lita Marie Townsend, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Fatima Warren, Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland

Mark Weiss, Montefiore

Judith Wright, Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio