Message from Our New Executive Director, Susan Shain

It has been four weeks since taking the lead at Coro Center for Civic Leadership, and the weeks have sped by; it feels like four hours and four months all at once. Jeff Sosnaud left me with a healthy organization poised to take the next step in growth, innovation, and impact.  

The newly revamped and expanded Exploring Leadership Program, as you will read, had an amazing summer transforming its 36 participants’ lives and culminating in the Exploring Leadership Summer Showcase attended by 200 supporters. It is now embarking on its in-school component where the Exploring Leadership Youth Fellows will share, lead, and guide their fellow students and faculty in discussions and actions addressing the education achievement gap. The program will directly impact 216 students in 12 Bay Area public schools. 

This month, the 2009-2010 class of Coro Fellows in Public Affairs, kicked off their nine month program by doing a presentation on “Change and Innovation at the San Francisco Unified School District,” to an audience at the Board of Education chambers. After only two days of interviewing an exhaustive list of school district stakeholders, the Fellows impressed the audience with their understanding of the multiple and complex issues facing the school district. In the audience were Carlos Garcia, S.F. Superintendent of Schools; Kim-Shree Maufus, President of the SFUSD Board of Education; Gavin Payne, CA Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, and many others. I encourage you to read the reflections of a parent who attended this presentation. An amazing presentation by yet another group of Coro leaders, read more about their study here.  

The Fellows began their government placements last week and are making a difference in offices from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to State Senator Loni Hancock’s district office. I recommend seeing the Fellows in action – come to one of our upcoming events or better yet, benefit from hosting a Fellow during their sector placements; we are in the process of securing positions in business, labor, and political campaigns. Contact Yolanda De La Paz, our Outreach Manager, for more information (415-986-0521 x103). 

Our Partnership Program is off to an amazing start as well. This year we are proud to provide Coro leadership training to the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program (NELP). This program is the brainchild of Scott Syphax, CEO of the Nehemiah Corporation of America, Coro alum, and Chair of the Coro National Board of Governors. Scott has challenged the Sacramento community to “join in providing promising young people of color with the training needed to step into leadership roles.” Coro graduate, Mina Kim, will be the trainer for the 12 week program. We are very excited about this partnership helping to impact the shape, color, and depth of California leadership in the 21^st Century. 

This past month I have been on a mission to meet and talk to as many of you, our core alumni and supporters, as possible. I have learned from you and am impressed with your interest and insight. I will continue on my mission as I look to listen to you, and to tap the capital that is the Coro community.