Learn About CADCA’s Career Development Initiative - the Ambassador Program at CADCA Forum

Through the Ambassador Program CADCA helps cultivate young professionals across the country for success by providing them the training and tools they need in their careers to become coalitions leaders in the future. At the 22nd Annual National Leadership Forum, held Feb. 6-9 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in Maryland, CADCA will highlight the accomplishments of its current Ambassadors and begin to recruit enthusiastic coalition leaders for its third cohort.

In 2009, CADCA’s National Coalition Institute launched the Ambassador Program to address an identified gap in the number of young adult coalition leaders serving economically challenged communities. This two-year workforce development program aims to increase the number of young coalition workforce leaders between the ages of 20 and 30 by offering extensive, no cost training and personalized training and technical assistance to participants.

Members of the Ambassador program collaborate and learn from each other by attending CADCA’s National Coalition Academy, the National Leadership Forum and the Mid-Year Training Institute. In between these critical training events, Ambassadors connect with each other through a series of webinars and conference calls to assess their acquired skills and apply them to community work plans. At the end of the two-year program, Ambassadors will complete targeted capstone projects in their communities and coalitions based on the knowledge and skills developed throughout the process.

The National Leadership Forum will serve as the culmination of a unique two-year experience for 14 members of the Ambassador Program’s second cohort. On Tuesday evening, Ambassadors will highlight their community contributions through poster presentations at the Ideas Fair taking place during the Networking Reception on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 4:45-6:00 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall.

Ambassadors will also receive special recognition for their achievements during the National Coalition Academy Graduation Ceremony, held on Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 7 – 9p.m. in Potomac A-B. Prior to the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about their individual capstone project through poster presentations as graduates arrive at 6 p.m.

Ambassadors will volunteer to provide support for Capitol Hill Day and provide attendees with assistance and information at the CADCA Institute booth in the exhibit hall throughout the conference. Also, Four Cohort 2 Ambassadors will present a workshop titled “Bridging Generation Gaps in Coalition Work” on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 9 – 10:15 a.m.
 
As the second cohort approaches the end of their process, attendees will be able to learn more about the program and the application process at the CADCA Institute booth. CADCA encourages interested coalitions members to learn more and apply for participation in the third cohort. Led by the CADCA Institute’s new manager in Dissemination and Coalition Relations, Marshella Toldson, CADCA aims to make the Ambassador Program and even more meaningful experience for participants in the coming months.

Through a close working relationship with Toldson, Ambassadors will develop a strong personal development plan to increase their professional leadership skills. The program will also increase Ambassadors’ collaboration with mentors in their coalition to enhance their process and participation within their coalition.

“We want to help Ambassadors develop stronger connections with their mentors in the coalition,” said Toldson. “Mentors will be able to take a key interest in the Ambassador and highlight their work in the coalitions and the community. Instead of an experience for the individual in the program, we want it to be a comprehensive experience for the entire coalition.”

For more information on CADCA’s Ambassador program, contact Marshella Toldson at 1-800-54-CADCA ext. 233 or e-mail her at ambassadorprogram@cadca.org. To learn more about CADCA's 22nd Annual National Leadership Forum, visit: http://forum.cadca.org/.