Sustaining change in our communities requires a steady stream of emerging and existing leaders dedicated to addressing pressing issues. The Urban Leadership Development Initiative engages community change makers in a year-long experience to equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop their practice of leadership and build stronger communities.
Join us as we bring community leaders together to build a better world and push for real change to make a difference.
Alumni
At MetroMorphosis, we believe leadership is not a position — it’s a practice. When you invest in leadership initiatives, like the Urban Leadership Development Initiative (ULDI), you’re helping cultivate a new generation of leaders who are equipped to engage, influence, and transform systems from the inside out.
Your investment supports leadership by:
- Developing leadership as a daily practice rooted in self-awareness, accountability, and community impact.
- Building a pipeline of changemakers through immersive cohort experiences that connect people to the tools, knowledge, and networks to lead effectively.
- Activating leadership at all levels — from neighborhood organizers to institutional influencers — ensuring those closest to the challenges are shaping the solutions.
Sparking long-term systems change by embedding leadership development into broader efforts for equity, civic engagement, and economic mobility.
"Believing that Baton Rouge needs work and improvement is not a unique or uncommon sentiment among those who are paying attention. The tough part is figuring out HOW to make change happen, and my year with ULDI prepared me to do just that. Not only was I armed with invaluable tools and knowledge for change, but also a group of people working toward the same goals for the city."
-HELEN FRINK | COHORT 5
BR Leads
Leading Movements
Blog, BRLeads, Think Pieces, activists, Leadership, movements, Urban CommunitiesWritten by: Sherreta R. Harrison In any moment of societal upheaval, there emerges a unique and necessary role: the activist. An activist is one who is usually aware of causes and challenges before the rest of the world and tries tireles...
Philan’ Yourself
Blog, BRLeads, Philanthropy, Think PiecesWritten by: Lauren Crump Sometimes, philanthropy gets in its own way. Etymologically, it’s “the love of humanity”. In practice, it’s a financial contribution. But in many circles, it’s considered an opportunity and distinction ...
Navigating Education through A New Pandemic
Blog, BRLeads, Think Pieces, COVID19, educationWritten by: Moon Muhammad On March 13th, in the midst of an unrelenting course collaboration, we got word that the governor had announced school closures. To be fair, only a handful of first – year teachers had gotten the word at my sc...
What You Should Know About Systems Change
Blog, BRLeads, Think Pieces, Systems, systems changeWritten by: Luke St. John McKnight During times of uncertainty and unrest there is often much discussion around the need for systems change, the societal software update. Systems change by its nature is a complex and ever evolving field,...
Leading Change in an Ever- Changing Environment
Blog, BRLeads, Think Pieces, COVID19, LeadershipWritten by: Johnathan S. Hill Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic, recent tragedies involving African-Americans and law enforcement and the word-wide response to both of these events has presented individuals, organizations, institutions, b...
