The National African-American Women's Leadership Institute, Inc. recognizes the supportive role African-American women have traditionally assumed in every aspect of American life. Black women have been the mainstay of volunteer support in local churches, in neighborhood schools, and in civic and social services organizations. Building on these existing strengths, NAAWLI seeks emerging women leaders who will commit themselves and their leadership talents to constructive change in the black community.

Believing that the most meaningful leadership development combines opportunities for personal growth and professional development, NAAWLI weaves together a holistic leadership model that stimulates the mind, challenges the body, and renews the spirit. The program brings together women from diverse backgrounds and varied careers and enhances their leadership potential.

In return, NAAWLI helps participants shape a vision of how they can improve their local communities and implement that vision in a project that will stimulate youth development, foster health and wellness, promote civic engagement, and encourage community involvement.

The NAAWLI office is located in Dallas, Texas. A generous grant from State Farm Insurance Companies launched the program and continues to provide support. A two-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided matching funds to meet the 2004 challenge grant offered by State Farm Insurance Companies.


NAAWLI Fellows represent a diversity of African American women, drawn from non-profit organizations, government agencies and corporations. Generally, the fellows are at the mid-point in their careers and have served as volunteers in the neighborhoods and communities where they live and work.


Interested women must apply for the program by submitting an application postmarked by the last day of August. You may request an application by contacting the NAAWLI office or download it from the web page. The NAAWLI Board of Directors serves as the selection committee. The committee strives for diversity in age, employment sector and geography among the fellows. Candidates are notified of the selection committee's decisions, by mid-November.


The tuition is $3,500. Scholarships are available for women from nonprofit organizations with annual budgets less than $300,000.


Fellows travel to four cities during the six-month program period. The program begins in January with a weekend orientation in Atlanta, followed by a week of field-based study of public policy. Highlights of the 2003 program included visits to the offices of the Fulton County commissioner of health, Dr. Adewale Troutman; the mayor of Atlanta, the Honorable Shirley Franklin, the superintendent of the Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Beverly Hall, and dinner with state representatives the Honorable Barbara Mobley and the Honorable "Able" Mable Thomas. In April fellows participated in a custom-designed, personal leadership development program at the Gallup Leadership Institute in Washington, DC. The graduation, celebrated with family and friends, was held at Bennett College in June.