Lead For America operates on the foundational understanding that our root problem is one of disconnection from place and community. We seek to activate a community revival, spearheaded by the people who know their communities best.
We are building a bench of 1 million convergent leaders
by 2040 to catalyze a widespread revitalization of our nation’s communities.
Lead For America's programs strive to build a critical mass of leaders and communities that will buoy this movement — until it is unstoppable.
Amerra Webster-Yaqui,
Hometown Fellow '19
Lead For America exists to ensure that our nation's most dynamic and diverse leaders are working on our communities' toughest challenges.
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We ground our approach on three pillars to comprehensively support a community revitalization: education, pathways, and systems change.
We are working to ensure that every young person leaves school understanding the power of local change-making, and has had the opportunity to effect change themselves.
We are building pathways to public service for the next generation of representative leaders dedicated to serving community — at home and nationwide.
We are joining forces with federal policymakers and assembling local coalitions to ensure this work can thrive beyond and without Lead For America in every corner of our country.
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Joe Nail, CEO
Grant Kirkpatrick +
Lorenzo Johnson,
Hometown Fellows '19
Shandiin Herrera,
Hometown Fellow '19
Grant Kirkpatrick
Lorenzo Johnson, Fellows
Joe Nail, CEO
What People Say
"Cities and communities are now the vanguard of problem solving. Lead For America marries the desire of recent graduates to make change in our communities and the need of local government for new ideas and capacity."
— Bruce Katz
Inaugural Centennial Scholar at The Brookings Institution,
Author of The New Localism
Suidi Hashi + Nafeesa Edges,
Hometown Fellows '19