St. Cloud State University joined other community businesses, partners and leaders in celebrating some of the St. Cloud area’s top emerging leaders of color during the 2023 Jugaad Leadership Program Graduation event in September at the Park Event Center in Waite Park.
SCSU is a proud sponsor of the Jugaad Leadership Program, which was developed in 2015 to empower the community to assume responsibility for positive social change. The seven-month leadership program is designed to provide people of color and other underrepresented community members with the knowledge, skills and resources to become effective leaders at the grassroots level.
The program, which is supported by grants from the Initiative Foundation, Central Minnesota Community Foundation and United Way, holds sessions from March-August with a graduation ceremony each September.
Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Dr. Jason Woods and Vice President Vice President for Equity and Inclusion & Title IX Coordinator Chocoletta Simpson attended the graduation event on behalf of SCSU along with other distinguished community leaders, officials and partners.
The Jugaad Leadership Program prepares its participants to be inspired to assume ownership of critical issues in their communities and to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to make a difference in Central Minnesota. Participants come from diverse cultures and backgrounds deeply rooted in their communities, who desire to make positive social change in their neighborhoods and in their communities.
SCSU’s It’s Time framework has an intentional focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. The University continues to partner with local companies and businesses in St. Cloud to strengthen community connections to foster a welcoming learning environment with the success of all students as the focus.
