Congratulations YLC Spring Graduates! | | |
Each semester, Young Leaders Council (YLC) welcomes the best and brightest young professionals our city has to offer. They represent a diverse array of businesses and organizations and have each decided to take the next step as future leaders in our community. This spring, YLC trained a total of 109 young professionals through the Nashville Spring, Junior League of Nashville, and the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University (Belmont-Massey) Cohorts.
Program participants began their 11-week journey with YLC in early March and completed training on May 14th with a graduation ceremony, featuring an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Isaac Addae, CEO of The Conscious Group. Spring graduates are now connecting with organizations and preparing to begin their 12-month board internship with a local nonprofit agency.
To view a full listing of the spring 2025 graduates, please click on the appropriate link below:
| | Spring graduates kicked off their alumni experience with a celebratory happy hour on May 14th at Rosemary & Beauty Queen in East Nashville, generously sponsored by Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty. | | Spring Cohorts Rally for YLC in a Record-Breaking Giving Campaign | | |
Each semester, YLC’s spring and fall cohorts come together in the final weeks of training to launch a fundraising campaign in support of our mission. This spring, we selected team leaders from each cohort to set a collective fundraising goal and spark creativity in how they inspired their peers to give.
With so many talented and driven young professionals in the program, it was exciting to see each cohort embrace a little friendly competition tapping into their personal networks and interests to make the campaign a resounding success. Throughout the semester, YLC tracked the progress of each group and created space during training sessions for team leaders to provide updates and rally support for their efforts.
| | Collectively, the spring giving campaign raised a total of $17,059.88 to support YLC! We are extremely grateful for our team leaders and each member of the spring 2025 cohorts for their generosity, enthusiasm, and dedication to this effort. All funds raised through the cohort giving campaign provide vital support to ensure YLC’s ability to provide quality training for future nonprofit board and community leaders. | | We’re thrilled to announce that the Nashville Wednesday Cohort has won the Spring Giving Campaign, raising an impressive $9,058.11 in support of YLC’s mission! The Nashville Wednesday Cohort giving campaign was led by Chelsea Baker (Netflix), Will Crawford (Gallagher), Sierra Leach (Nashville State Community College Foundation), Jasmine Ledsinger (The Store), Ausha Miles (Parking Management Company), and Josh Rickerman (Nashville Public Library Foundation). Together they used their exceptional leadership skills to inspire fellow cohort members to give generously and make this semester’s campaign an absolute success. | | Recent Graduates Reflect on Their YLC Experience | | |
Dr. Carolyn Adkerson / Nashville Spring 2025
227 Advantage, LLC
As a Nashville native, I’m grateful to YLC for the opportunity to grow more confident in my ability to not just join a nonprofit board, but to truly make an impact in the community. It has been a meaningful journey of learning and professional development, and I’m looking forward to leveraging the knowledge I’ve gained to serve effectively on nonprofit boards that align with my passion for sports, equity, technology, and entrepreneurship. What made the experience even more special was being encouraged by friends who are part of the YLC alumni community. Now I fully understand why they spoke so highly of it. I’m excited to serve and be able to give back to the Nashville community – a place I know and love.
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Chelsea Baker / Nashville Spring 2025
Netflix
I wanted to give back in a way that would allow me to use my professional skills and elevate my ability to serve on a nonprofit board. I had no idea how to take that first step or how to make sure I would present myself as a top candidate for a nonprofit board. I thought you had to be wealthy or well connected to serve on a board. Through YLC's program, I went from having no idea how to achieve my goal to connecting with my top choice and serving an organization that I'm truly passionate about. YLC gave me the skills, connections, and confidence I needed. I highly recommend it!
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C.J. Bradley / Nashville Spring 2025
HCA / Parallon
YLC is an amazing program where you get to connect with and learn from industry experts about non-profit board member responsibilities. The training is top-notch, and the people you meet and grow with are incredible. I went in not knowing what to expect, but I genuinely feel like I experienced one of the most valuable leadership trainings of my career. I walked away every week feeling empowered and inspired, both in my professional life and in my ability to volunteer effectively as a non-profit board member.
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Rhea Maladkar / Nashville Spring 2025
Lifepoint Health
Participating in the YLC program helped me in so many ways, and I was able to meet so many wonderful people who share a love for giving back to the community. YLC helped me find my calling and purpose in life, which is to start a nonprofit organization. I could not be more excited, and I know that my fellow cohort members will be right there to support me when I’m ready to embark upon this journey!
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Alexey Semenov / Belmont-Massey 2025
Belmont University
YLC gave me a clearer picture of Nashville’s nonprofit community, its opportunities, challenges, and where real impact happens. I learned what it truly means to serve on a board, the skills strong board members need, and where I still have room to grow. Most importantly, I built real connections, with community leaders, my cohort, and people who care deeply about making Nashville better. I am walking away from this program not just more informed, but more equipped and inspired to give back in a meaningful way.
| | YLC Hosts Annual Nonprofit Appreciation Luncheon | | |
YLC hosted its annual Nonprofit Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, May 8th at AllianceBernstein in downtown Nashville. The Luncheon was sponsored by AllianceBernstein and serves as an opportunity to honor the valued partnerships that YLC has built within the local nonprofit community over the years.
More than 80 nonprofit representatives were in attendance, enjoying a catered lunch and an inspirational presentation from meditation, mindfulness, and movement expert, Rosa Costano. During her presentation, Rosa offered helpful tips and strategies to help nonprofit leaders navigate stress and burnout, set boundaries, and practice self-care and meditation. YLC also welcomed Nashville Class 79 graduate, Alexandra Nelson (Asurion), to share her perspective and experience as a program graduate and member of The Sexual Assault Center Board of Directors.
YLC is grateful for the support of the local nonprofit community and for AllianceBernstein’s continued investment in our efforts to build lasting connections and inspire greater collaboration with our partner agencies.
| | Strengthen Your Board with Trained Volunteer Leaders from YLC | | Looking to bring fresh energy and talent to your board? Since 1985, Young Leaders Council has trained emerging leaders to serve effectively on nonprofit boards through its 11-week program, followed by a one-year board internship. Hosting a YLC intern is a great way to engage purpose-driven young professionals ready to support your mission. Create your profile on the new Board Connect platform or contact Program Manager Rachel Reyes at rachel@youngleaderscouncil.org to get started. | | Photos of the Appreciation Luncheon, spring alumni happy hour, and the graduation ceremony were provided by Roland's Photography. | | | | |
