This fall, a group of Charlotte African American leaders will participate in the inaugural class of the African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte (AALAC), a new initiative of the CLT Alliance Foundation administered by One Catalyst Consulting. Hosted in partnership with the Harvey B. Gantt Center as an event venue partner, the program will begin with a welcome reception this month.
The Academy’s mission is to intentionally equip, empower, and advance local Black professionals to strengthen the impact and pipeline of executive and C-suite leaders for the public, private and philanthropic sectors. AALAC aligns with key components of the Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative including advancing Black leaders, as it focuses on expanding the number and impact of African American leaders in our community by creating a safe, supportive space that fosters acceleration and growth.
“The Academy will help us continue to build a community of diverse leaders, where everyone feels accepted and supported throughout their career journey,” Mayor Vi Lyles said. “It is a safe place for focused conversations about the African American experience and leadership strategies to help navigate headwinds and achieve success.”
Inspired by a program in Ohio, the initiative includes a research-based efficacy curriculum by Korn Ferry, six months of complimentary executive coaching, and fireside chats with C-suite leaders. Recommended academy fellows are at director, executive director, VP or SVP level with goals of advancement to higher executive or C-suite roles, or leading larger organizations.
AALAC was initiated through civic leadership efforts at the Foundation For The Carolinas after hosting the “Building a Pipeline of Black Leadership” event in August of 2022. From there, its director, Elizabeth Trotman of One Catalyst, worked with a group of community and corporate leaders to develop a tailored program for the Charlotte community.
“We must be intentional about ensuring that there are African American executives in leadership roles,” Trotman said. “There’s plenty of room for growth as it relates to representation, and with key leaders retiring or transitioning we must act now to ensure we have a pipeline of Black leaders now and in the future. We want to look back three, five and 10 years from now and see a stronger community that reflects the diversity we seek at all levels.”
An intentional alliance, the Academy also supports the CLT Alliance Foundation’s goals to advance Black executive and business leaders. CLT Alliance Foundation president Nate Hogan described the partnership: “This is a pivotal time for our community and our organization, and this is exactly the work we want to engage in. Helping measurably advance Black leaders is important not only for the leaders, but also for the community as a whole and our regional economy. We’re excited to be part of this legacy-building effort.”
The Academy’s founding funding partners include Leadership funders, The CLT Alliance Foundation,and Ally Financial; Empowerment funders, Lowe’s and Wells Fargo; and Supportive funders, Bank of America, AvidXchange and individual donors. For more information on the African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte, visit aalacharlotte.org.
