A new nonprofit organization on Hawaii Island has the ambitious goal of creating future local community leaders through a paid fellowships with local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies and is seeking recruits to fill those positions.
Lead For Hawaii is creating a network of young, local change makers ready to challenge the status quo, take action in solving challenges in our community, and help build a better future for all people on the Big Island, the nonprofit said in a media release.
Lead For Hawaii is a Hawaii-based affiliate of a national nonprofit, Lead For America, which works to recruit, train and place new leaders into service. The nonprofit finds and supports homegrown talent — dynamic and diverse individuals who are driven to help make their communities strong, vibrant and compassionate while tackling pressing problems.
The Lead for Hawaii team includes Executive Director of Innovation Alexis Ching, a 2020 Lead For America fellow with a degree in Anthropology.
Emily Znamierowski is the director of Community Engagement and Entrepreneurship who possesses a background in corporate communications, finance, and technology. Both Ching and Znamierowski grew up in Kona and now work in the Hawaii County Department of Planning.
Coming from a career in mental health and a life of creativity, Dino Morrow is director of Programs and Strategy and comes from a career in mental health and creative imaging. His role is to help guide and support fellows as they lead their community into a future of empowerment and prosperity through wrap-around mentorship and training, strengthening their identity and sense of place.
“Our island communities are facing significant challenges, from COVID-19 and health care access, to workforce development, diversifying our economy, caring for our cultural and natural resources and ensuring that every child receives an excellent education. The talent and leadership this moment requires is born within every community on our island,” Ching said. “Far too many young people in Hawaii, particularly for those who grow up in our highest need communities, the narrative of success has become one of leaving and never coming back. And even for those who maintain the condition to return, and serve, the pathways to do so are often few and far between. We also know it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Lead For Hawaii is a two-year paid fellowship and will be offered to just eight change makers. The first cohort is scheduled to start training on July 26 and to begin work Aug. 16.
The organization is seeking applicants for its inaugural fellowship and those interested have until June 18 to apply.
“Candidates can have a college degree or no college degree,” said Morrow. “Equity is our biggest thing. We don’t want hosts or individuals to be eliminated because they did or didn’t have education, but are strong leaders in the community. Everyone has the opportunity with no walls in front of them.”
Each fellow will receive an annual stipend of $34,000, provided through philanthropic donations or grants, and be placed with a host institution to work on crucial initiatives, such as land use and policy, sustainable agriculture, Kilauea recovery efforts in community capacity and resilience, cultural preservation and perpetuation, legislative processes, and indigenous, place-based conservation. This year’s host institutions are Hawaii County, The Kohala Center, Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests, Kahua Pa‘a Mua, and Shaka Tea.
“Lead For Hawaii offers our county the ability to gain highly qualified and skilled young professionals for temporary employment while simultaneously allowing us to foster their growth, build their networks, and ultimately contribute to their real-life work experiences,” said Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth. “These individuals, without a doubt, bring a tenacity, vigor, and willingness to learn that is simply unparalleled to other staffing programs we’ve used in the past, and we look forward to their continued contributions to our communities and the people of Hawaii County.”
Each fellow will engage in an experiential learning and training structure. The experiences range from learning from cultural practitioners and kupuna, participating in workshops and specialized training with local leaders, and going on immersive excursions with defined purposes. The idea is to bridge divides, foster fresh thinking, and develop dynamic ways of collaboration to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.
In partnership with Hawaiian canoe carver and practitioner Alika Bumatay, the first-ever cohort of Lead For Hawaii fellows will carve a canoe. “The wa‘a, or canoe, is as symbolic as it is functional, and for our cohort’s purpose, it will serve as the vessel that steers us through the fellowship in service to and with one another,” Ching said. “The art of canoe carving will not only strengthen the fellows’ cultural and historical foundation, it will serve as a mode of healing and personal transformation. At the end of their two-year collaboration, the cohort will have formed robust bonds while completing their canoe, and learning how to fulfill the unique roles and responsibilities associated with each canoe seat.”
After completing their fellowship, each fellow will receive training on how to run for office, launch social ventures, apply for grants and advice into positions of public leadership.
Applicants are encouraged to explore the Lead For Hawaii website, lead4america.org/hawaii, and schedule a call with the team. To get involved, make a donation or more information, contact Znamierowski at 896- 7649 or email emily.znamierowski@lead4america.org.
Learn more about the sites and projects at lead4america.org/placementsites.