RISE Urban Leadership Fellows Program
Cohort 11 Applications Open in Spring 2025
“The RISE Urban Leadership Fellows Program played a significant role in my leadership development. So much of the deep grounding and self-work helped me to work through conflict and show up as my authentic self while doing so. During the past few years of the pandemic, I have helped create spaces of healing and conversation.”
The RISE Urban Leadership Fellows Program (RULFP) focuses on the personal and professional development of each Fellow through intensive forums, the development and implementation of a self-selected community project, and coaching and peer learning throughout the fellowship year. Through an adaptive leadership approach that requires active engagement and deep reflection, fellows are offered the next phase of their development and training, enabling them to lead more effectively in the face of the complex, contentious, and seemingly intractable challenges present in their communities.
The RISE Fellows Program includes four (4) intensive three (3) day-long forums over the course of the program year. In addition to attending all forums, each Fellow is responsible for either enhancing or creating a project that addresses a very specific issue or need in an urban community of San Diego that they serve or aspire to serve. There are three (3) technical sessions to support the Fellows and their development of these projects.
The program is structured to encourage fellows to draw on faculty, previous fellows serving as mentors, community leaders, and their cohort of fellows for learning and support as they develop and implement their community projects. A core group of professional consultants with a wealth of expertise in leadership studies and community change will work hand-in-hand with fellows every step of the way in grasping and growing from the program’s adaptive change leadership approach.
RISE Fellows will learn how to:
Become more effective leaders by working on their own personal and professional growth
Develop projects that bring innovative and creative approaches to urban issues
Create sustainable networks of action with other RISE Fellows and allies across the region and beyond
RISE Fellows will be expected to be open to:
Differences of views and perspectives among their cohort, faculty, presenters, coaches; and, mentors.
Vulnerability and challenging of one’s notions on leadership and civic engagement.
Core Module Examples:
Adaptive Leadership
Stages of Community Development
VUCA + Immunity to Change
BART: Boundary, Authority, Role and Task
Restorative Justice
Archetypal Leadership
Design Thinking
Relational Leadership
Identity, Essence, & Purpose
Group Relations Dynamics
“RISE was a life-altering experience that led me to develop an awareness of myself and others in a transformative way. RISE connected me with so many thoughtful leaders enacting change across San Diego and I learned as much from the program as I did from peers that I got to experience it with.”
Cohort 11 Fellowship Program Schedule
Orientation Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Forum I Friday, September 19th - Sunday, September 21st, 2025 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Technical Session I Saturday, October 25th, 2025 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Forum II Friday, December 5th - Sunday, December 7th, 2025 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Technical Session II Saturday, January 31st, 2026 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Forum III Friday, March 13th - Sunday, March 15th, 2026 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Technical Session III Saturday, May 16th, 2026 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Forum IV Friday, June 5th - Sunday, June 7th, 2026 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Graduation Friday, June 26th, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
*attendance is required for each session
Applications Open Spring 2025
RULFP Faculty & Mentors
Cohort 10 RISE Fellows
Cohort 9 RISE Fellows
Cohort 8 RISE Fellows
Cohort 7 RISE Fellows
Cohort 6 RISE Fellows
Cohort 5 RISE Fellows
Cohort 4 RISE Fellows
Cohort 3 RISE Fellows
Cohort 2 RISE Fellows
Cohort 1 RISE Fellows
Program Demographics
Cultural Identities
Location
Age Groups
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