Guiding Principles and Values

Inclusion

Every member of the community has the opportunity to pursue a leadership position in an area of interest to them.

Community

As participants choose the community in which they desire to lead, they are also encouraged to be active members of the disability rights community.

Focus on People, Not Programs

Leadership development is more than education and training, the Center expects to develop ongoing supportive relationships with every participant.

Self-Excellence

To lead others and make a positive and lasting impact, you must know yourself. Personal mastery of self-esteem, self-knowledge, and self-direction, are central components of leadership development.

Transparency

Information and resources are easily and readily available to anyone seeking them.

Civil Rights

Recognizing the often unacknowledged contribution of disability history in public education, disability history and experience is related to both our participants and our partners.

Diversity

All people are valued. Differences in mental or physical disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, marital status, and religious or non-religious background are viewed as strengths.

Vision

CCL believes each person should have the opportunities and supports to be a leader in the disability rights community and their home community.

Mission

To engage people with disabilities in the leadership process, support them as they participate, and provide tools to turn their vision into reality.

Leadership Definition

A leader is someone who knows oneself and is influential in his or her organization and/or in the greater community.

Goals

CCL works to create:

• More inclusive communities.
• A competent group of people committed to changing the system.
• A network of allies creating system changes and building inclusive communities.
• Organizations with the capacity and skills for supporting people with disabilities.
• A network of people with disabilities who are knowledgeable about disability issues and who become leaders of their communities.
• A group of young disability activists to carry on the work of Justin Dart, Ed Roberts, Judi Chamberlain, and other influential leaders in the disability rights movement.

What does Connections for Community Leadership Do?

Training

Find and evaluate existing trainings, identify gaps, create trainings where they do not exist, and help local groups organize leadership development opportunities. Learn more about training opportunities!

Supports 

Assist leaders to fully participate in leadership opportunities, identify scholarship funds, help local groups provide accommodations, provide ongoing supports and follow-up after leadership opportunities, and offer emerging leaders networking and growth. 

Proud and Powerful Campaign

Assist people with disabilities in finding their pride and their voice.  Work with organizations to undergo a philisophical shift in how we think about disabilities and how we can improve our services by changing our thought processes.  Learn more about the campaign.

What is LeaderLINKS?

LeakerLINKS is a statewide database of over 2,000 leadership opportunities such as:

• conferences
• trainings
• workshops
• camps
• clubs
• organizations
• online courses
• boards
• committees
• and much more

You can search the database by topic or type of opportunity. You may also search by your zip code.

Accessing LeaderLINKS

You can have us do the searching for you by calling us at 1-866-532-2669 or you can search the database online.

To search the database online, you must register. Register as a CCL Member by following this link.

Already a member, follow this link to log in and begin searching.

Previously Funded Initiatives

College Organizations Networking Now Each Creating Ties (CONNECT)

Statewide network connecting college students with disabilities involved with student disability organizations on their campuses to each other and the resources available to them in their communities. 

Informed Communities

Assist people with disabilities, their families, and their allies understand national, state, and local disability issues; participate in public policy discussions; and take action on issues that affect their lives. 

Proud of Myself

Worked with the Iosco RICC over the course of a year to develop disability identity, pride, and leadership.

Building Alliances for Disability Leadership (BADL)

A mentoring program for people with disabilities to develop leadership skills through active learning, peer-learning, and community advocacy projects.  This was a partnership with Michigan State University and the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council.