Sheffield solicitors MD Law has invested in the next generation of community leadership.
The Broomhall-based law firm has sponsored three participants to complete the new Rise In Our Roots four-week leadership programme which elevates 12 leaders from diverse backgrounds including the global majority, migrant and refugee backgrounds.
The programme which starts on May 28 will support people who already hold communities together through youth work, wellbeing spaces, educators, voluntary, faith and grassroots organising in corporate, social impact and academic sectors, to develop their skills and leadership to the next level.
Weekly sessions will focus on identity, ancestry, and belonging; emotional resilience and self-trust; purpose, boundaries, and collective leadership, with participants coming from the youth justice system; social workers, child and family support workers, and prevention teams; creatives and wellbeing practitioners; migrant community organisers and the voluntary, community, faith, social impact sector.
The new Rise in Our Roots programme, led by The Innovation, ran its first sessions in March which saw 12 community leaders pass through its course.
In the first cohort, it provided four participants with scholarships to provide a reflective space to breathe and align with their purpose to social justice and wider life aspirations. This removed financial barriers to access and enabled participants to fully show up.
Project leader Adeola Banjoko delivers Rise in Our Roots with authenticity, energy and movement to ensure it is truly a holistic experience and allows space for participants to return back to themselves and look ahead with more confidence and belief that nothing is impossible.
MD Law’s Neil Kelly said: “Sheffield, and South Yorkshire’s community is diverse and not everyone is able to access relevant training. Rise In Our Roots is not an ordinary leadership programme. It is a grounded, community-led space for developing courageous, values-driven leaders. It is not just skills training but offers leadership as a life skill to those who are committed to the community, but face huge financial barriers to developing their leadership.
“Our sponsorship will help provide access to lived-experience insight from community leaders, increase employee pride and engagement, build meaningful relationships with organisations, and contribute to future leadership and the talent pipeline by strengthening the grassroots leadership capacity across Sheffield.
“Fostering community development here in Sheffield feels especially important right now, particularly given the wider social and political climate we are all navigating.”
Former humanitarian worker and Rise In Our Roots designer Mo Ali, who draws on a decade of experience running leadership programmes for more than 1,000 leaders globally, including senior leaders and CEOs working in social impact and social justice, said: “This programme uplifts, empowers and energises community members to create greater impact. It unlocks patterns so they can rise, and the wider community can benefit from their brilliance.
“We bring humans from all sectors who have more to give their communities, and harness their passion for social change, strong values and purpose to reinforce their commitment to their chosen community or cause.
“Our thanks goes to MD Law for becoming our first sponsor supporting three places on the next course. It is an investment in local leadership infrastructure. Without support like this we would not be able to run our life-changing work within these communities.”
Rise In Our Roots’ long term goal is to grow the model nationwide, while keeping its roots firmly in community. The organisation is already forming a global team to take this to a 1,000 leaders, starting in Sheffield.
Grassroots organisations including ASSIST Sheffield, City of Sanctuary and Chilypep have already benefited from the programme.
Visit Rise In Our Roots website at riseinourroots.carrd.co for further details on the programme.
Image provided by MD Law
