NextUp! Leaders Lab
Welcome to NextUp!
Welcome to NextUP!
NextUp! Leaders Lab is a 1-year professional development training focused on mentorship and education and networking. We provide tools to prepare young racialized arts leaders, with a priority on Black and Indigenous individuals, to step into strategic leadership of their own arts initiative and senior-level positions in Arts Administration.
Why NextUP!?
A quick scan of (Non-Cultural specific) community arts organizations and the local and provincial funding agencies which fund them show that 77% of those in Senior or Executive Level positions are white, white-passing or non racialized (scan conducted by ArtReach & Sketch in 2019). Only 23% are racialized, including 16% identifying as Black or Indigenous. As we continue to add to this data, the percentage of Black or Indigenous leadership decreases.
The lack of representation of racialized arts leaders is a result of access barriers rooted in systemic oppression and specific models and knowledge being prioritized over others. Next Up aspires to support the shift toward a more equitable and diverse arts and culture sector by changing the face of leaders who hold significant decision-making power. Next Up aims to strategically support access using a ‘know the system to change the system’ approach.
Who is NextUp! for?
Our next cohort has 12 spots available for someone 18-35* who:
- Identifies as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour
- May identify as trans or non Binary
- Is holding coordination or management-level positions in an arts organization seeking to step into executive leadership in their own or other arts & culture organization
- Is seeking to transition their arts based initiative/practice into an organization
How to apply:
- Fill out application form
- We’ll be in touch with next steps.
*If you’re over 35 but NextUp! Leaders Lab is for you, let’s talk!
The program is centered around 4 learning pillars and divided into 4 sections over a one year period:
Empowerment
Next Up is a co-learning space, our cohort members come with a unique set of experiences and knowledge and we encourage participants to approach leadership with their authentic selves. We build Cohort connections through group discussions, regular meetings and small projects. We also provide opportunities for cohort members to lead and facilitate knowledge sharing within the program and as alumni.
During the first 2 months of the program, cohort members work with the group mentor to
build connection within the cohort by creating co learning agreements, reviewing and adding to our community of practice and set goals and intentions for their learning journey.
Education
Skill Development Modules delivered online and in person. Facilitators are professionals bringing in their analysis of power, wealth distribution, imposter syndrome and inequitable access in the context of being racialized leaders navigating often predominantly white spaces. Each module has 1 creative practice assignment connected to the content for the NextUp! cohort to work on in their own time. Cohort members are given on average 2-4 weeks to complete the module.
Mentorship
Cohort members have access to the 1:1 mentors throughout the program, mentorship events are introduced in month 7.
Our mentorship component includes:
- 1 on 1 mentorship from 6 arts and culture professionals with a wide range of expertise in management and executive leadership.
- 1 Group Mentor to support group dynamics, building and maintaining mentor relationships and goal tracking.
- Additional check-in from the program coordinator to support with building professional relationships, group dynamics and project management
- Partner curated mentorship panels and talks
Networking
Networking opportunities come up throughout the year and we believe building social capital is an integral part of leadership development, our current networking component includes:
- Partner produced networking events
- Continued Alumni engagement after the program ends.
- Monthly Newsletter inclusive of relevant event listings, opportunities and cohort member spotlights
- Group field trips to different events related to the arts and culture sector.
- Opportunities to skill share and speak about your work
We believe Personal Development and wellness are integral to any professional development journey.
In partnership with Lifted By Purpose , we are offering participants 20 hours of talk therapy for the duration of the program.
Introducing Next Up Lite!
NextUp! Lite is a compact version of the NextUp! Program that focuses on Education and Networking for busy arts admin professionals.
Next Up Lite includes:
- 7 Online and in person modules over the course of 1 year
- Access to networking events and opportunity
The program begins November 1st and meetings are held in the evenings twice a month.
We are now accepting applications for NextUp! Leaders Lab and Nextup! Lite
Application Deadline: October 16th, 2023
Introducing our NextUp! Leaders Lab 2021 Facilitators & Mentors!
(keep checking back for updates!)
Shadi Mogadime – Strategic Planning & Experience-Informed Leadership Facilitator
Shadi (pronounced so it rhymes with buddy) moved with her family to Canada as refugees from Apartheid South Africa. Because of challenging early childhood experiences and family dynamics, she became a student of many modalities in an over 30-year spiritual and personal growth exploration. Her deepest dive is in esoteric Buddhism and in the practices of meditation, yoga, and qigong as well as other wellness technologies.
For the last five years, she has used these experiences and the knowledge she developed to mentor organizations and coach individual clients from around the world. Shadi feels fortunate to have spent her 25-year professional career in the charitable sector fundraising and marketing for the missions of crucial humanitarian causes, arts & culture non-profits, and social change organizations.
Her current focus is a company she launched in December 2020 in response to requests from clients and community members called Conversations for World Change. Its mission is to help people realize and thrive as they live their mission in life and work. Conversations for World Change includes coaching for individuals, organization mentoring and special events.
Eric Plato – Financial Management Facilitator
Eric Plato was born in Niagara Falls and graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting. After becoming a CPA,CMA he held many finance roles in the nonprofit sector. Over the past 30 years he has worked with organizations with budgets ranging from under $100,000 to over
$100 million. He has also served on several nonprofit boards as Treasurer. In addition, Eric is an excellent trainer, speaker and facilitator in nonprofit financial management. He currently teaches financial management for NGOs at Centennial College. Now self-employed with his own consulting business, Eric’s goal has always been to support the nonprofit sector to feel more confident and comfortable with matters of financial management.
Sheila Sampath – Mentor
Sheila Sampath (she/they) is an artist, activist designer, and educator living and working in Toronto. She is the Principal and Creative director at The Public, a community-centred design studio founded on principles of social justice and anti-oppression, the Editorial and Art Director of Shameless magazine, a national feminist magazine for teen girls and trans youth and a Professor in the Digital Communications Program at Humber College. In 2020, she was named a YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction, for her work in transforming the lives of women and girls through the arts.
Omer Israel – Mentor
Omer Ismael is a Program Manager, Strategist, and person committed to addressing community change through arts, technology, and entrepreneurship. For over a decade Omer has led programming at several non-profit organizations, museums, festivals, municipal agencies where he has designed training programs and strategic partnerships that serve newcomers, youth, and young professionals. More recently he has led entrepreneurship programs at Digital Main Street, OneEleven, and Artscape Daniels Launchpad. Throughout his career, Omer has leveraged the power of arts and culture to address complex issues in his community ranging from community safety and youth unemployment. Omer is a 2019 Cultural Leaders Lab Fellow, and BMW Foundation Responsible Leader.