Mission Statement
New Leaders Council (NLC) was formed in 2005 to address a gap in the progressive leadership development infrastructure. While there were, and are, numerous programs, trainings, and seminars for eager college students and for mid-career professionals, there were few programs for young professionals in their twenties and early thirties. NLC fills this gap.
The mission of New Leaders Council (NLC) is to train and support the next generation of progressive political entrepreneurs—those who are leading industries, setting trends, and building institutions that support robust civic and political life in a global America.
NLC believes in recruiting emerging leaders from outside of the traditional power structures, engaging them on both local and national levels, and equipping them to be civic leaders—not only for elective office, but also in their communities and workplaces.
NLC accomplishes this mission primarily through the NLC Institute; the nation’s premiere political entrepreneurship training program that builds local teams of outstanding young professionals in 20 cities across the nation. NLC Fellows engage in an intensive ten days of training over a five-month period to learn cutting-edge entrepreneurship, leadership, and political management skills from over 150 industry-leading volunteer faculty. Fellows are paired with career mentors, join a national alumni network, and agree to fundraise to support the next class of Fellows.
The result of NLC is a growing corps of diverse and highly-skilled new progressive leaders who rise to the top of their fields, working together across sectors and in their local cities to build, expand, and improve the progressive infrastructure necessary for strong democracy, social justice, and equal opportunity. Meet the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Fellows.
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Mark Walsh, Chairman
Mark Riddle, Executive Director
Louis Valerio, Treasurer
Michael Moschella, Secretary
Robert Abernethy
Claire Silberman
Noah Doyle
Leslie Barkemeyer-Myers
Chris Kelly
Nathaniel Loewentheil
Chapter Directors
Mike Traxinger, Des Moines, Iowa
Evan Berger, Philadelphia
Honorary Chairs
City Councilmember Kwanza Hall
Atlanta, GA
Boston City Councilmember John Tobin (ret.)
Massachusetts Department of Transportation Registrar Rachel Kaprielian
Boston, MA
Thomas Castillo
Chicago, IL
Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Steve Zimmer
Los Angeles, CA
Louisiana State Representative Rosalie Jones
Governor Kathleen Blanco (ret.)
Louisiana
Newark City Councilmember Ron Rice
New Jersey
Sacramento Municipal Utility District Board Member Nancy Bui
Sacramento, CA
California State Senator Christine Kehoe
San Diego, CA
California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma
San Francisco, CA
National Leadership Team
Alumni Co-Directors
Chris Fadeff
Ashely Stover
Communications Director
Lauren Brown Jarvis
Curriculum Director
Stacey Chavis
National Development Director
Matt Tompkins
Northeast Development Director
Daniel Getman
National Strategic & Development Advisor
Michael Hayden
Expansion Director
Leslie Barkemeyer-Myers
Finance Co-Directors (Chapters)
Andrea Olson
Matti Miranda
Finance Director
Alex Muir
Mentorship Director
Kula Koenig
Policy Director
Clay McClure
Programs Director
Matti Miranda
NLC Founder, Senior Advisor
Adam Borelli
Media
For media inquiries, please contact Communications Director Lauren Brown Jarvis or Executive Director Mark Riddle.