Preparing Diverse Talent to Lead in the Field of Aging

Overview

Purpose:

The field of aging needs more leaders of color—and a modern, sustainable leadership program to support them. Aging in the United States has never been an equitable experience across the barriers of economic and social justice. Exacerbating this issue is the fact that those who can best drive the change we need are often the people who were raised, live and work in the communities most affected by these inequities. And so, much too often, the same inequities and lack of justice that require our response are those that prevent the most qualified people from having access to lead that response.

ASA RISE Will Change This

Simply put, ASA RISE is a launching pad for the next generation of leaders in aging. Our vision for ASA RISE is that it will lead to improved well-being across an increasingly diverse aging population by creating a BIPOC leadership pool that improves policies and programs at the local, state and national levels.

Objectives:

• Fundamental training and mentorship in the field of aging, principals of advocacy, social justice and leadership development.
• A national, cross-industry network of peers and thought leaders.
• Completion of a national project that contributes to thought leadership or innovates service delivery in aging as part of ASA's On Aging Institute.
• Deepened appreciation for the unique dynamics that come with being a BIPOC leader.

ASA RISE Fellows will experience:

Session 1: Inclusive Leadership Skills consisting of 11 weekly sessions on

Wednesdays from 3-6PM ET/12-3PM PT

Topics will include:

• Antiracism and Allyship
• Building Collective Meaning-Making About Equity
• Developing Your Equity Lens
• The Racial Leadership Gap
• Unconscious Bias
• Cultural Competence/Cultural Humility
• Listening, Communicating and Decision Making
• Strategic Thinking
• People Skills: Team Building and Networking
• Advocacy 101
• Building A Movement
• History of Social Justice and Aging Movements
• Aging Issues Specific to Communities of Color

Session 2: Inclusive Leadership in Action consisting of 11 weeks of a joint facilitated project with ASA’s On Aging Institute

In Year Three, fellows will lead a national allyship project in one of ASA’s five strategic priority areas (Ageism & Culture, Economic Security, Equity & Justice, Health & Well-being, or Social Impact & Innovation) to drive systemic change in aging. Cohort 3 ASA RISE Fellows will engage in a liberatory design practicum to understand the equity challenges associated with the project area and design an intervention to acknowledge and help navigate those challenges in the field of aging. Fellows will deepen their toolkit for structural transformation exploring dimensions of Courageous Leadership, including Transforming Power, a framework for Leading for Equity, and Building Racial Equity Culture. Fellows will hear from other pioneering organizations across the country that are positively impacting older adults. In addition to completing the project, fellows will explore effective communication and presentation skills. This will prepare Fellows to present their projects during a virtual capstone symposium on June 26, 2024.

1:1 Mentoring

In addition to the curriculum, ASA RISE fellows will be paired with a mentor who will meet with them biweekly over the 6-month program. The role of the mentor will be to ensure fellows remain on track, are able to share their experiences, seek career advice and counsel, and ultimately expand their network.

Did you miss our recent information session on ASA RISE? Click here to watch a recording!

Program Fee: $1,000

Fellows will receive a complimentary ASA membership for one year and conference registration to On Aging 2024.

ASA RISE Fellows are encouraged to request employer-sponsored support for the $1,000 program fee and travel expenses (estimated $2,000–$3,000) to attend the On Aging conference in San Francisco at the end of the program. A limited number of scholarships are available. Download a template of a written request for employer support here (PDF). 

A note on tuition scholarships.

We encourage all applicants to seek tuition payment/reimbursement from their employer and employer support for travel to On Aging. In cases where the cost of tuition is a burden for either the employer or the individual, a limited number of tuition scholarships are available. Candidates must demonstrate a level of financial need that would make ASA RISE tuition a barrier to participation in the program. Eligibility for a tuition scholarship includes, but is not limited to, self-paying individuals or individuals employed by a nonprofit organization. The opportunity to request tuition assistance will be provided as part of the program acceptance process, and will require the completion of a short application.

Who is eligible for ASA RISE?

ASA RISE is open to BIPOC-identified professionals within the field of aging. Candidates should have a minimum of five years’ experience and do not need to be a member of ASA. We are seeking applicants from a cross section of sectors (such as business, academia, nonprofit and government), and disciplines (such as tech, social work, community-based services, arts, community engagement and financial services).

How will ASA RISE fit into your schedule?

ASA RISE participants should anticipate spending 6–8 hours each week participating in the live workshop (three hours) and completing supplemental readings and assignments. The weekly session during the 6-months will be held on Wednesdays from 3:00-6:00 PM ET/ 12:00-3:00 PM PT.

Application Process:

Prospective fellows will submit an online application. The application requires you to upload a bio statement, a current resume or CV and a leadership autobiography. Within the application you will be asked to answer three short questions (up to 250 words) covering:

• What does diversity, equity and inclusion mean to you?
• Describe your experience and commitment to social justice and dealing with structural inequities in aging.
• Describe why you believe a program like ASA RISE will advance your career in the field of aging.

Click here to download a PDF of the application to review before submitting online.

Leadership Autobiography Instructions:

ASA RISE acknowledges that leadership is a complex and multifaceted process and there are many ways to approach, develop, nurture, and utilize a leadership praxis. We would like to better understand what leadership means to you and your motivating factors for participating in ASA RISE. Please thoughtfully and concisely construct a leadership autobiography answering the following questions in a separate document (3 pages maximum) to upload as part of the online application.

• How do you personally define leadership and how have you demonstrated this in your own life?
• What personal or professional experiences or background have prepared you to contribute leadership in the field of aging with a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion?
• Are there leadership qualities you hope to enhance during the ASA RISE Fellowship? How will you use those enhanced skills in service to an aging society?

Selection Criteria:

Selection into ASA RISE is a competitive process, and not all applicants will be accepted. ASA RISE fellows will be selected by a committee after a review of all applications. Our selection criteria include:

• Commitment to Growth—Showing a commitment to your own professional development, and a readiness to invest in growing your leadership capabilities and participating fully in all aspects of the ASA RISE program.
• Commitment to the Aging Sector—Demonstrating a commitment to the field of aging and a strong intention to advance your career in the field.
• Potential for Advancement—Having a sense of how you want to grow your impact at an individual, organizational and community level, matched with the potential to do so.
• Ability to Put Learning to Work—Currently working in a role where you can directly apply the ASA RISE leadership and DEI concepts, tools and lessons learned.
• Contributing to the Diversity and Richness of the ASA RISE Cohort—Your ability to help us build a diverse cohort to support an environment where fellows are exposed to, and engage with, a wide variety of thought, opinions and people. These include, but are not limited to: age, community experience, cultural background, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, industry, leadership experience, personality and profession.

Meet the 2021-2022 ASA RISE Alumni from Cohort 1!

Meet the 2022-2023 ASA RISE Alumni from Cohort 2!

"ASA RISE provides a crucial platform for diverse leaders of color to finally have their voices heard and their thoughts considered. The program gives you the support and motivation to keep going forward when others want to continually dismiss you because you don't fit their typical perception of an expert to be valued."

-Karon Uzzell-Baggett, Owner & Occupational Therapist at Specialized Occupational Therapy Services (SpOTs) LLC

“Through the coursework, guest speakers, and the relationships that I forged with a diverse set of future leaders in the ASA RISE program, I was able to gain a much broader perspective in understanding the cultural nuances and customs that will help me resolve complex issues in building a more inclusive future for diverse older adults."

-Ocean Le, Program and Communications Manager at Diverse Elders Coalition

"ASA RISE has allowed me to keep finding and creating opportunities to be a young BIPOC aging health equity leader, even after the program is over. For any BIPOC leader wanting to change the aging landscape, ASA RISE is that opportunity.”

-Lauren Garcia, Research Associate at Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UCLA

"ASA RISE is a program that opens your eyes to the work that still needs to be done in aging in reference to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and gives you a chance to connect with professionals alike from different areas of specialties and parts of the US that are committed to the same mission."

-Shani Gilmore, Executive Administrator of Long Term Care at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

"I am truly grateful to count myself as an ASA RISE alumnus as my first experience of sitting in a room that was primarily made up of BIPOC professionals was something I had never experienced. Week after week I was introduced to aging leaders, many of color, who shared their wisdom in a space where my peers and I were able to learn and share our experiences."

-Jerry Zuniga, Housing Preservation Strategist at Habitat for Humanity International

Read more about the Fellows experiences here.

Have questions?

Contact us at ASARISE@asaging.org.