BOLT SCHOOL FOR
GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP
The BOLT School for Grassroots Leadership supports BIPOC grassroots leaders residing in low-income neighborhoods with demonstrated commitment to community-led change.
Despite having the deepest connections to their neighbors and working around-the-clock, these leaders are often paying out-of-pocket, using their personal savings, and do not receive the visibility that outside stakeholders do.
Our program is focused on elevating their work and increasing their capacity so they can reach their visions, faster. That’s how we get to a Philly where every neighborhood is thriving, led by the people living there.
What to expect from the program
Leaders participate in an 8-month leadership and capacity building program that consists of:
100 hours of instruction: innovative, customized grassroots leadership curriculum infused with expertise on Philadelphia context
1:1 monthly executive coaching
Life-long community of grassroots leaders
Compensation for participation
The application for the 2023-2024 cohort is now closed. Please subscribe to our mailing list to stay update on the next application cycle.
At the end of the program, each participant is positioned to grow and sustain their program, emerging with the following:
A fiscal sponsor or 501c3 status
Completed Social Impact Template
Theory of Change / Logic Model
Annual strategic plan
Organizational Budget
Fundraising Plan
Board development
Organizational Policies
Staffing Plan
Impact measurement instruments (eg. pre/post surveys).
Grant Template
2022 - 2023
Cohort Recap
“When we think about grassroots leaders, we think about people that’s living in the community, have these lived experiences. Grassroots leaders are the frontlines.
David Buck || Bridges of Opportunities
2023 - 2023 Fellow
Things don’t even take place without them and we see it now because we have so many entities making decisions for our communities when we should be able to make those decisions for ourselves.”
2023-2024 Cohort
Aigner Bostic
Dat Girl Mentorship
Ant Brown
The ABRO Experience
Pamia Coleman
Black Girls with Green Thumbs
Ken Peeples
Dynamic Justice Collective
Rickey Duncan
NOMO Foundation
Charles & Tammy Reeves
RAC2
Mazzie Casher
Philly Truce
Kwadir Scott
As I Plant This Seed
Annette Kennedy
Philly Shared
Zarinah Lomax
The Apologues
Taja Morris
Sisters with an Agenda
Ron Toles
Ordinaire Heroes
2022-2023 Cohort
David Buck
Bridges of Opportunities
Tahira Fortune
Voices by Choices
Vickie Best
VUOTS Tutoring & Events
Cleo Robinson
A Home From Shana Foundation
Keyssh Datts
Decolonize Philly
Ryan Harris
As I Plant This Seed
Milaj Robinson
Youth Creating New Beginnings
Jose Ferran
Hunting Park Green
Serita Lewis
UrbnSeek
Thank you to our Guest Facilitators!
We are so grateful to our guest facilitators who come into lead workshops for our participants!
These are topical experts who have a deep care for supporting grassroots leaders to drive community-led change and we appreciate them sharing their expertise, as well as time, with us.
Anavi Strategies
Project Invent & Tandem
Mid-Atlantic Employers Association
Vocal Justice
Bria Spivey Consulting
The Community Curator
Humanature
DiverseForce
Christopher DiRiccio
Mid-Atlantic Employers Association
Anavi Strategies
Civic Capital
Impactful Solutions
A Home from Shana Foundation (BOLT '22-23)
Museologie & Patricia Kind Family Foundation
MOV Solutions