The Lee Institute is a non-profit consulting practice based in Charlotte, NC. Our mission is to serve and strengthen the common good through the collective power of public engagement, civic leadership and collaboration.
Our experience as a non-profit gives us a unique perspective on the challenges facing public and community organizations. We are creative and strategic in our work. We are known for developing individualized responses to the needs of our clients. These skills, combined with strong relationships and extensive knowledge, are at the heart of our work.
OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM: AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM
The American Leadership Forum (ALF) is a non-profit organization, national in scope, dedicated to joining and strengthening established leaders in order to serve the public good. It enhances leadership by building on the strengths of diversity and by promoting collaborative problem-solving within and among communities.
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? Our services include:
Process design and facilitation
Public engagement
Leadership development
Project management
Strategic planning and positioning
Our clients include non-profit organizations, public institutions, foundations, civic leaders and community organized initiatives.
If you are interested in speaking with someone about working with The Lee Institute, please
.
THE OLIN NISBET ACTION FUND
Olin Nisbet was an early advocate, friend and a significant, important supporter of the effort to protect The Duke Mansion and establish The Lee Institute. To honor that history but more importantly to create a permanent, living testimony to Olin, a group of Olin’s friends and family led by Ed Crutchfield are creating The Olin Nisbet Action Fund.
The Olin Nisbet Action Fund
Each year, there are issues and concerns in the community where the expertise of The Lee Institute would be helpful and advantageous but there is no possible funder identified. The earnings from The Olin Nisbet Action Fund will support The Lee Institute in focusing on such an issue. The Nisbet Fund will be a combination of a rapid response and seed money fund – providing resources where needed to allow The Lee Institute to help bring the community together. The initial goal for this effort is to raise $250,000, establishing The Olin Nisbet Action Fund as a permanent named fund as a part of The Lee Institute. The endowment of The Lee Institute is held at The Foundation For The Carolinas. All gifts to The Olin Nisbet Action Fund are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law and are payable over five years. For more information,
or 704-714-4445.
The Lee Institute is facilitating 12 break-out sessions at Mecklenburg County’s Healthy Weight, Healthy Child
Community Health Summit this week (May 15) at UNC Charlotte. About 150 participants will be gathering to hear about
and drive forward community-driven initiatives ranging from vending machine policies in schools to food stamps at
farmers’ markets to addressing childhood obesity in clinical settings. 5/14/2012
***
The NC Infant Mental Health Association board took the next step in developing its strategic plan last Friday (May 11)
by developing actions in the areas of Membership Growth & Engagement, Board Development, Funding & Sustainability,
Public Awareness & Advocacy, and Education & Professional Development. 5/14/2012
***
The board of Temple Beth El approved its strategic plan last week (May 7) and will be presenting the highlights at its
annual meeting with its congregation later this month. 5/14/2012
***
In a unanimous vote last night (April 23rd), the Board of Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte approved a strategic plan
developed by its strategic planning committee and The Lee Institute. The plan identifies a clear path for Federation in its
roles as a central philanthropic organization, community builder, convener, and planner for the greater Charlotte Jewish
community. 4/24/2012
***
The brand new North Carolina Infant Mental Health Association is beginning its work to frame its strategic plan with The
Lee Institute. This statewide organization is seeking members to support its efforts in the areas of young child
emotional, cognitive and social development, cross-organizational collaboration and professional development. Visit
www.ncimha.org. 4/13/2012
*** ALF Class XII was fortunate to spend the day with Asheville artist Kevin Hogan at the Innovation Institute, a program of
the McColl Center for Visual Art. He led us through a series of exercises to help us unleash our creative abilities. We
made a mess, but had
a great time doing it. 4/13/2012
***
click picture to enlarge
The Infant Mental Health Working Group has an updated list of providers on its website www.zfive.org. The agencies and
individuals listed serve the social/emotional health needs of children under 5 years old and their families. The Lee
Institute supports the work of ZFive through facilitation and strategic guidance. 3/28/2012
***
The strategic planning committee of Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte has worked tirelessly with The Lee Institute
to craft a set of ambitious and very comprehensive long-term outcomes for its future. The Board has been instrumental
in developing these outcomes along the way, and the committee is presenting them as a full package for approval by the
Board this week. 3/12/2012
***
The training sessions for Conversation Guides at Christ Episcopal Church kicked off this week as they begin a
process of engaging their members in talking and listening to one another. The information gathered during
the conversations will be used to determine the future direction of Christ Church – based on the hopes and
dreams of its members. 2/2/2012
*** GOOD, an organization about the various ways, big and small, people give back to their communities has
launched a challenge for the month of February. Partnering with Eric Liu, author of Gardens of Democracy,
and Liu’s Guiding Lights Network, an organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement, GOOD is challenging individuals to tasks designed to help you become a great citizen. Check GOOD.is at 8:30 a.m. EST every day of February to see that day’s task. Visit GOOD.is for more information.2/2/2012
***
American Leadership Forum Class XII Fellows will be meeting this week of January 30, 2012 for an engaging two-day retreat at
Camp Dogwood. They will focus on “taking stock” of their development as collaborative leaders and as a
learning community since the program year began in August.
***
At the Workforce Development Leadership Team’s kick-off meeting this Wed., Jan. 25, leaders will begin work together
on transformational shifts in Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s workforce development sector. This collaborative approach
springs from the analysis completed by The Lee Institute and Carol Morris Consulting last summer laying out ideas for
increased long-term vocational success of individuals with significant employment barriers while meeting the workforce
development needs of businesses.
***
On Jan. 12th, ALF class XII will experience a day of learning about Appreciative Inquiry—an approach to addressing
problems that shifts people’s thinking from the root causes of failure to the root causes of success. “Whatever we focus
on expands.”
***
We enjoyed hearing feedback from Temple Beth El’s members this past Sunday, January 8th, a day of focus groups to help frame the Temple’s strategic plan.
*** ALF Class XII met in November for our session on Dialogue – how to move a difficult conversation forward. The session
was facilitated by Andy Sachs of the Dispute Settlement Center in Carrboro, NC. The day’s events culminated in an
opportunity for Fellows to practice the collaborative techniques discussed throughout the day to come to an agreement
about an emotional issue on which the class was evenly divided! Class XII will meet in December for a session on Leading
Across Differences, which is focused on structural inequity and the dynamics of power, privilege and oppression in the
US Culture.
*** Smart Start Rowan recently engaged The Lee Institute to design and facilitate a planning retreat for its leadership. After
reviewing the current environment, local needs data, emerging priorities and its existing mix of services, the team
developed a recommendation for the consideration by its executive committee. The group’s interaction illustrated the
very tough funding environment in which they operate and the multiple priorities that must be balanced to meet the
diverse needs of young children and their families.
***
ALF Class XII returned from its 5-day Outward Bound trip on Sunday, Sept. 25th, with solidified relationships and a deeper understanding about themselves as individuals and as a group, as only a wilderness experience - in the rain - can do! "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, in a pretty and well preserved body; But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming... "Wow, what a ride!" -Hunter S. Thompson
*** University City Partners - The Lee Institute and the University City Partners' staff recently hosted a Board Retreat for Members to shape outcomes of their Strategic Plan. The Board discussed a wide range of topics including board best practices, current UCP committee work, and data collected and analyzed by the Lee Institute, which included a series of interviews, focus groups, and quanititative data. This week, the Lee Institute will meet with the Strategic Planning Committee to discuss next steps while integrating ideas from the Board Retreat.
***
Olin Nisbet was an early advocate, friend and a significant, important supporter of the effort to protect The Duke Mansion and establish The Lee Institute. To honor that history but more importantly to create a permanent, living testimony to Olin, a group of Olin’s friends and family led by Ed Crutchfield are creating The Olin Nisbet Action Fund.
