Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and the Developmental Disabilities Council Phone: (866) 532-2669 toll-free Fax: (517) 333-2677 E-mail: leadership@prosynergy.org Web: www.copower.org/leader/ Participant Information Connections for Community Leadership What is Connections for Community Leadership (CCL)? Connections for Community Leadership (CCL) is a program that supports people with disabilities as they develop leadership skills and become leaders in their communities. Benefits of Joining CCL Learn about leadership. Gain the tools you need to pursue leadership. Attend leadership activities. Gain knowledge of public policy issues affecting the disability community. Receive support in making a difference. Meet other leaders in the community and connect with other people with disabilities. Become self-aware. Reflections from Participants “By being involved in CCL, I have learned that a few people working together can accomplish more than I ever thought possible.” ~ Joanne Johnson “Being part of CCL has helped me learn ways in which I can become a better leader and advocate for myself and other people with disabilities.” ~ Laura Hall “CONNECT helped me realize that being a person with a disability is nothing to be shameful about.” ~ Shana Holet How Can CCL Help Me Become A Leader? CCL has several program areas that can help you develop your leadership skills including: LeaderLINKS A statewide database of more than 1,900 leadership opportunities. Leadership opportunities include conferences, trainings, online courses, clubs, board positions and much more. Search this database to find a leadership opportunity near you. Join the database and you get additional benefits. Cookie Gant Leadership Development Fund A scholarship fund to help people with disabilities be able to attend leadership opportunities. Apply for a scholarship to cover transportation, registration fees, and other expenses related to attending a leadership development event or activity. Informed Communities Attend a free forum in your part of the state and learn about public policy issues in your community. In addition, you can network with other community members and create an action plan on how you can make a difference in your community. Come learn about an issue in your community, take action and become a leader in your community. CONNECT Are you a college student? If so, you can connect with other college students with disabilities and find out if there is a disability student organization on your campus. Not only can you meet other college students with disabilities, but we can assist you in starting a student group if one does not already exists on your campus. Proud and Powerful A variety of strategies to help people with disabilities feel proud of who they are and know that they can make a difference. Learn about disability history, pride, and culture. Learn to feel Proud and Powerful!!!! Get Connected Network with other leaders in the disability rights movement. Learn about disability and leadership organizations in your community that can help become a leader. There could be people just like you living in your town. Find out and create a network of people and organizations that can support you. CCL Leadership Tools Lead On A handbook to starting a disability student organization on a college campus. We Lead A leadership curriculum you can implement in your community. This inclusive program engages participants in leadership development while they plan and carry our a community service project. One Voice An advocacy manual for people with disabilities. This manual covers topics such as advocacy styles, communicating with the media, talking with legislators, sitting on governing boards and much more. All of these publications are available for free on our website. "Only in community can we discover the best course of action, claim our power, and act in unity." ~ Margo Adair and Sharon Howell “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Ghandi Become a leader and join CCL today!