Keynote speaker, Sybil Wilkes, co-host of the Tom Joyner Morning Show (top row, fifth from left in red dress) congratulates the National African American Leadership Institute at their graduation celebration. DALLAS- Nineteen professional women from across the United States were strangers a few months ago. They recently they became sisters.  At a graduation celebration in Dallas, they achieved Fellow designation with the National African-American Women’s Leadership Institute, Inc. (NAAWLI). The celebration culminated an intense, 14-day program where they explored their personal leadership styles, built their leadership capacity and learned to integrate learning into action.    NAAWLI was founded in 2000 by Dr. Gloria Scott, former president of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina and Dr. Zulma X Barrios, Vice President at the Gallup Leadership Institute in Lincoln, Nebraska.  NAAWLI headquarters moved to Dallas, Texas in 2006 and is currently under the leadership of board chair Arlivia Gamble.
According to NAAWLI’s Curriculum Chair, Hattie Hill, CEO for Hattie Hill Enterprises, Inc, “The program has proven to achieve three levels of value.  The results impact the supporting companies, their most precious resource-their people and the surrounding communities.” The participants benefit from comprehensive leadership training and professional development led by national experts in their fields.  Employers make the investment in return for tremendous value to their work teams as well as the individual careers of NAAWLI Fellows.
Contact NAAWLI at www.naawli.org for more information, list of sponsors and fellows and an application for the 2010 Class.