The Asian and Pacific Islander Leadership Blog
October 10, 2019 LEAP Community Reception - Philadelphia
Register for LEAP’s Community Reception Event in Philadelphia!
October 26, 2019 LEAP Community Reception: Haunted Little Tokyo
Register for LEAP’s Community Reception Event in Los Angeles!
We Are Here: LEAP Emerge Community Impact Project
The LEAP Emerge Interns conducted some great interviews as part of their Community Impact Survey - Check them out!
LEAP’s Linda Akutagawa Testifies at House Financial Services Committee on “Diversity in the Boardroom: Examining Proposals to Increase the Diversity of America’s Boards
A Message from Linda Akutagawa — I was there speaking as the Chair of the Alliance for Board Diversity (ABD) of which LEAP is one of the partner members along with Catalyst, the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). Together with our advisor, Diversified Search, we’re advocating to increase the representation and inclusion of Asian and Pacific Islanders, Black/African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos and women on corporate boards. But I most certainly showed up as the President & CEO of LEAP too!
Announcing the LEAP Emerge Class of 2019
Formerly known as Leadership In Action, LEAP Emerge is an eight-week paid summer internship program designed to develop emerging young leaders by providing college students with practical leadership skills and the opportunity to work hands-on in the Asian and Pacific Islander community in Southern California. Read more about this year’s cohort!
Congratulations to our Spring 2019, Cal State LA AAAS 2630 Cohort!
In partnership with California State University - Los Angeles (CSULA), LEAP facilitated the 16-week leadership seminar course AAAS 2630: Asian American Experience. Nancy Yap (Director of Development, LEAP) co-facilitated the course with CSULA professors Jason Chiu and Dr. Juily Phun. Read more about what our students learned this semester!
Reflections on the 2018-2019 LEAP Impact Program
LEAP Impact is a three-part, six-month program designed to develop Asian and Pacific Islander staff for future and current leadership and management roles in nonprofit organizations and increase the retention of those committed to working in the nonprofit sector. On March 21, 2019, LEAP Impact: Leadership Development for Nonprofit Staff concluded in New York, NY. 16 class participants graduated from the program. Read our recap of the program and graduation ceremony here.
LEAP Community Reception in New York City, March 2019
On March 19, 2019, LEAP hosted a special community reception in New York City. Over 80 guests, including the LEAP program participants, LEAP staff, alumni, trainers, coaches, funders, LEAP friends, and local community leaders attended the reception. Read our recap of the special community reception.
Announcing the LEAP Impact Class of 2018-2019
Formerly known as the Emerging Leaders Program, LEAP Impact: Leadership Development for Nonprofit Staff is a three-part, six-month program designed to develop Asian and Pacific Islander staff for future and current leadership and management roles in nonprofit organizations and increase the retention of those committed to working in the nonprofit sector. The program provides 16 participants each year with an opportunity to receive 80 hours of leadership development training and 6 hours of executive coaching. Read more about this year’s class below.
Congratulations to the Leadership In Action 2018 Interns!
The 2018 Leadership In Action (LIA) is an eight-week paid summer internship program designed to develop emerging young leaders by providing college students with practical leadership skills and the opportunity to work hands-on in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community in Southern California. The 2018 LIA program kicked off on June 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA and ended on August 10, 2018 with a graduation ceremony. Read more about this year’s program below.
Building Coast-to-Coast Asian and Pacific Islander Community: LEAP Emerging Leaders Program for Nonprofit Staff
The Emerging Leaders Program for Nonprofit Staff (ELP) provides 16 participants each year with an opportunity to receive 80 hours of leadership development training and 6 hours of executive coaching. In addition to tangible leadership skills and workforce tools, participants become part of a unique cohort of Asian and Pacific Islander nonprofit professionals. Kendall Kosai and Sina Uipi are alumni of the 2016-2017 program. Read their reflections about their post-program experiences below.
Reflections on the 2017-2018 Emerging Leaders Program
On March 22, 2018, LEAP’s Emerging Leaders Program for nonprofit staff concluded in New York, NY. The ELP class, facilitators, coaches, trainers, funders, and LEAP friends celebrated the end of the program with a Graduation Dinner and Ceremony at China Blue. LEAP President and CEO Linda Akutagawa kicked off the dinner with a keynote speech to the ELP class on how to move forward as community leaders after the conclusion of the program. During the dinner, ELP participants shared personal stories about the program experience with the graduation guests, and each participant was presented with a plaque for their completion of the program.
Announcing the 2017-2018 Emerging Leaders Program Participants
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a three-part, six-month program designed to build nonprofit organizational capacity by developing Asian and Pacific Islander (API) staff for future and current leadership and management roles in nonprofit organizations as well as increasing the retention of APIs who are committed to working in the nonprofit sector. The program provides 16 participants each year with an opportunity to receive 80 hours of leadership development training and 6 hours of executive coaching.
We Stand with the DREAMers
Los Angeles, CA - LEAP, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to uncapping talent in the Asian and Pacific Islander community, is deeply disappointed with the announcement to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)program. The end of this program will mean that over 800,000 young and talented people (DREAMers), many who are friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors, will be pushed back into the shadows, forcing them to abandon their dreams and depriving us all of their full potential.
Congratulations to the Leadership In Action 2017 Interns!
The 2017 Leadership In Action (LIA) program kicked off on June 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA. LIA is an eight-week paid summer internship program for college student leaders. The program provides participants with practical leadership skills, professional work experience, and the opportunity to work hands-on in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community in Southern California. Throughout the summer, selected interns work at a partnering Southern California community-based organization for four days out of the week (Monday through Thursday) and spend one day (Friday) at LEAP to continue receiving leadership development. Additionally, the first week of LIA begins with five days of foundational leadership training and team building activities.
2017 LEAP 35th Anniversary Celebration Recap
If you missed our 35th Anniversary Celebration Thursday, July 20, we have the next best thing for you: The Dream Big Recap. All the highlights from our evening together are captured right here. If you attended, this recap will take you back to the delicious food, the band, the good times, and good friends. As LEAP strives to “Uncap Talent” in organizations and communities nationwide, we intend to stay grounded in the communities and businesses that are our foundation. This event embodied all the different aspects of the organization, from its past to its future.
Thank you to Little Tokyo for being our home.
Thank you to our honorees for paving the way.
Thank you to our friends for Dreaming Big with us.
Meet LEAP's 2017 Honoree Fatima Bustos-Choy
Get to know our honorees before the LEAP "DREAM BIG" 35th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, July 20, 2017! Presenting one of our Individual Leadership Award recipients, Fatima Bustos-Choy!
Meet LEAP's 2017 Honoree Kenneth Kasamatsu
Get to know our honorees before the LEAP "DREAM BIG" 35th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, July 20, 2017! Presenting one of our Individual Leadership Award recipients, Kenneth Kasamatsu!
Meet LEAP's 2017 Honoree Patricia A. Neilson
Get to know our honorees before the LEAP "DREAM BIG" 35th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, July 20, 2017! Presenting one of our David R. Barclay Alumni Leadership Award recipients, Patricia A. Neilson!
Meet LEAP's 2017 Honorees Geri Mannion and Paul Ong
Get to know our honorees before the LEAP "DREAM BIG" 35th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, July 20, 2017! Presenting two of our Individual Leadership Award recipients, Geri Mannion and Paul Ong!