Leadership Deli

A cohort program for mission-driven leaders in SE Michigan: build long-range vision, gain tools, and connect with peers. Leadership Deli is a cohort learning experience for emerging and established leaders in organizations of all stages and sizes, whether or not your title says "director." Across eight four-hour sessions starting on February 26th, you'll find community with other mission-driven leaders, challenge outdated ideas about leadership, and build a vision for your future grounded in your most important values. Since 2014, we've supported 350+ leaders and 100+ organizations with the tools, community, and vision to transform their communities and institutions. This is a space to slow down long enough to think 5, 10, even 100 years into the future, and leave with the clarity and confidence to lead from that place. This program combines structure and breathing room. Facilitated sessions give you the foundation, while conversations over lunch and honest exchanges in breakout rooms give you the fuel. Throughout the program, you'll develop a long-range vision for your organization and your own leadership, learn tools and frameworks tailored to mission-driven work, connect with a community of equity- and justice-minded leaders across Southeast Michigan, and gain confidence to step more fully into the leader you're called to be. Pricing is on a sliding scale ($750–$1,750 per person) because we want this experience to be accessible regardless of budget. If you're seeking a reduced rate, reach out to Carly Friedrich ([email protected]). We strongly encourage each participating organization to send two team members. Registering two people from the same organization? Use promo code DeliDuo for 25% off. Sessions Orientation & Ways of Being Led by Abbey Davis, Director of Consulting at NEW and Carly Friedrich, Director of Learning Communities at NEW Friday, February 26 (02/26/27) 9 am – 1 pm Every cohort becomes its own community, and this is where yours begins. In this opening session, you'll connect with the people you'll be learning alongside, share what brought you here, and together build the agreements that will shape how you show up for each other in this experience. The Heart of Leadership: Soul Care Led by Dr. Mishelle Rodriguez, Founder of Collaborative ChangeMakers Counseling Friday, March 12 (03/12/27) 9 am – 1 pm You can't pour from an empty cup, and this work is demanding. This session grounds us in the practices that sustain us, because leading well starts with tending to yourself. We'll explore what compassionate leadership looks like from the inside out, and how to build cultures where people are allowed to thrive. Visioning for Collective Liberation Led by Yodit Mesfin Johnson, Founder of YMJ & Associates & Will Jones III, President and CEO of NEW Friday, March 19 (03/19/27) 9 am – 1 pm What does the world look like in 5 years? 50? 100? This session slows everything down so you can imagine forward. Grounded in hope and your deepest values, you'll craft a vision of success you can see, feel, and begin to build. Discover how your vision connects to something much larger than your org chart. From Vision to Strategy Led by Abbey Davis and Carly Friedrich from NEW, featuring alumni from previous Leadership Deli cohorts Friday, April 9 (04/09/27) 9 am – 1 pm Having a vision is one thing. Knowing how to move it forward is another. In this session, you'll map your sphere of influence, sharpen how you communicate your vision, and hear directly from program alumni who are doing it. You'll leave with a clearer sense of how to invite others in and make real progress. Creating Cultures of Belonging Led by Abbey Davis from NEW Friday, April 16 (04/16/27) 9 am – 1 pm The culture of your organization is being shaped every day: by what you say, what you allow, and how you show up. This session asks the harder questions: How do we lead in ways that heal rather than harm? How do we unlock the collective power in the room? Together, we'll explore what it looks like to build something people actually want to be part of. Bottom-Line Change Friday, April 30 (04/30/27) 9 am – 1 pm Led by Joanie Hales, Managing Partner of ZingTrain Whether you love it or don’t, you probably agree that change is challenging. Creating it. Having it “done to” you. Making it stick. Helping it work. After learning that there will always be change to deal with, Zingerman’s came up with a recipe – Bottom Line Change® – that they use to roll out all organizational changes, from moving the office printer to opening a new business. Learn the recipe for making change a lot less stressful for all involved and a lot more likely to stick and, best of all, for getting people in the organization rooting for its success! Restorative Leadership Led by Belinda Dulin, Executive Director of The Dispute Resolution Center & Carly Friedrich from NEW Friday, May 14 (05/14/27) 9 am – 1 pm Conflict is a sign that people care, not that something is broken. This session reframes how we think about tension, disagreement, and hard conversations. Grounded in restorative practices, you'll develop a more courageous and compassionate approach to conflict that strengthens relationships rather than straining them. Vision Forward Led by Abbey Davis and Carly Friedrich from NEW Friday, May 21 (05/21/27) 9 am – 1 pm This is where it all comes together. You'll build your own visionary leadership toolkit, map your next steps, and reflect on how this program has shaped you. And then you'll share it, because a vision named out loud is one step closer to becoming real. Interested but can’t attend? We offer Leadership Deli once a year, so stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter. If you’d like to have a conversation about your needs, fill out our inquiry form.