New Ventures in Leadership (NVL), created by the American Society on Aging, is explicitly designed to promote the leadership potential of professionals of color and their involvement in the national aging arena. NVL participants, known as Partners, develop and enhance their skills in areas aligned with their career objectives, such as leadership development, community building and advocacy, grantwriting and fundraising, and applied research techniques, empowering them to assume leadership roles in their communities and organizations.

The year-long program is composed of three components: educational seminars, mentoring, and special projects. Partners develop a special project and are paired with two mentors, one local and one national, who assist them with their professional development and provide access to networks of leaders in the field of aging.

There are three ways for organizations to support a participant in the program.

Hear from our former partners, mentors, and funders. This is what they have to say about the NVL program:

“Funders often struggle between supporting people or supporting programs. NVL allows us to do both. Through the work of the NVL partners, many people benefit. The partners benefit through the training they get, but then, they reach out and touch so many other people.”

- Robert Eckardt
Vice President
The Cleveland Foundation.

“Participating in the NVL program is a win-win situation. The NVL partners win because the program is an opportunity for them to meet other minority professionals in aging. NVL provides a forum where you can share ideas, where you can network, where you can share resources. I think it’s a win for ASA because it demonstrates its commitment to diversity issues. It’s also a win for the funders because NVL creates a pool of minority leaders who are able and ready to serve their communities in a culturally appropriate way. And the biggest winners are the elders receiving the services.”

-Deborah Russell
Senior Program Specialist
Economic Security/Work Issues, AARP;
Chair, ASA Minority Concerns Committee;
former NVL Partner.

“When I was director of the City of Oakland Department on Aging, the department was privileged to serve as a host agency to two NVL partners. In addition to being exposed to opportunities to assume leadership in the field of aging, our partners developed projects that made significant contributions to the department. In an era in which there are few resources devoted to meeting the needs of those who will be making policy decisions regarding one of the fastest growing segments of the older population – people of color- this program strongly deserves continuation. I’m so pleased that the agency I now direct can support the program.”

-Sandra Nathan
Deputy County Office
County of Santa Clara