OUR MISSION
The African American Leadership Institute (AALI) is designed to enhance civic awareness and leadership opportunities to make an innovative community impact on Central Texas.
Launched in January 2021, our mission is to build a stronger Black Austin community by equipping exceptional leaders to live up to their moral responsibility to seek to make life better for everyone in our city, state, and the world.
AALI participants have opportunities to make connections to affect long-term action required to create equity, opportunity and a higher quality of life for all of Austin’s citizen.
OUR COHORT
AALI’s annual Fellowship Cohort targets exceptional leaders (fellows) who engage in intensive community building and “deep dives” into multiple issue areas with a lens toward the Black community in Central Texas. Objectives for every Cohort session and event are to inform, connect and activate!
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Expose Fellows to the history and culture of Austin's Black community. Generate data to better understand issues of Black flight and employee retention in Central Texas
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Identify emerging Black leaders and expose them to other community leaders and professional, civic, and social engagement opportunities
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Engage Fellows in class projects focusing on policy/systems change, hands-on community engagement, and AALI program sustainability and expansion
OUR ALLIES
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Mark McClain
CEO of SailPoint Technologies
We have a lot of talented people who need more training, development, and exposure. AALI shows up, providing exactly that.
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Stephen Straus
Managing Director, KUNG FU.AI
The African American Leadership Institute can systematically improve the opportunity disparities that Black Austinites face.
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Karen LaShelle
Executive Director - Austin Together
It’s so rewarding to see that the original ideas of what the African American Leadership Institute could be has come true.
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Joseph Kopser
President, Grayline Group
The work that AALI is doing is critically important to society and community not just here in Austin, but nationwide.
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Mayor Steve Adler
Former Mayor - Austin
The African American Leadership Institute is an excellent solution to act as a point of connection within the city of Austin.
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Tam Hawkins
CEO - Greater Austin Black Chamber
The value that the African American Leadership Institute will bring to African Americans and the community is unmeasurable.
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Congressman Lloyd Doggett
Texas’s 35th Congressional District
The African American Leadership Institute is a valuable contribution to our community fostering growth and empowerment.
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Robert Dye
Social Venture Partners
AALI has thrived and is now prepared to transition from a startup incubator into a fully established organization.
OUR NETWORK
AALI’s network is comprised of Fellows, Alumni, Sponsors and Ally Partners. Our public facing events offer opportunities for the broader community to engage in all-inclusive settings beyond the annual Fellowship Cohort.
“Networking is not about just connecting people. It's about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.”
