The NAAWLI office is located in Cedar Hill, Texas. A generous grant from State Farm Insurance Companies launched the program and continues to provide support.

The National African-American Women's Leadership Institute^TM, Inc. (NAAWLI) was launched in 2000 by Dr. Gloria Scott, former President of Bennett College and Zulma X. Barrios, Senior Advisor of The Gallup Organization with the vision to realize the power and potential of African-American women. Dr. Scott and Ms. Barrios saw the need for African-American Women to have access to a leadership development program that would help them grow and maximize their leadership skills and talents, and provide a safe haven for personal growth.

Even in 2011, there are still significant barriers to African-American women rising in the ranks of Corporate America. Women of color, like many women, suffer from a lack of strong or existing strategic networks and work/life balance demands. NAAWLI's key focus is developing and sustaining African American-women leaders [measurable impact].

 

The business of the NAAWLI Inc. Institute is to offer practical value to its two primary customers: African-American professional women in the workforce and organizations that employ them to survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive market. Our programs aim to equip African-American women to build their capacity as skillful and strategic contributors, creating, and managing solutions at work, home, and the community.

We firmly believe that African-American women have and can continue to be a strong asset through learner-leadership and commitment to a holistic approach to self.
 

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

"After attending the Marsha Clark Session, I had a heightened sense of self-awareness. Because of her session, I was able to clearly articulate my strengths in a recent interview in which I was offered the job."

                                                                   Marla White, Fellow of Class 2010

Interested women must apply for the program by submitting an application postmarked by October 31, 2011. 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. The selection decision is made by the Selection Committee and candidates are selected and notified by November 30, 2011.

Please click the link below to open the form. Save form to your computer and complete, and print, you cannot save the completed document, so please print the form and mail, fax to (469) 575-0068, or scan and email to info@naawli.org