California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute
Leadership Development for Black Women and Girls Across California
From first ambitions to executive leadership, building the pipeline together.
The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute invests in Black women and girls at different stages of their leadership journeys, creating opportunities to build confidence, strengthen skills, expand networks, and develop tools to lead and create change.
LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE
Our Approach
Building a Leadership Pipeline Without a Ceiling
Our leadership development work reaches Black women and girls at different stages of their journeys. Holly J Mitchell Girls Empowerment Leadership Institute builds leadership foundations early. The CSUDH Leadership Certificate Program supports Black women advancing their professional leadership. Together, they represent a long-term investment in Black leadership across generations.
01
For Black Girls
Building Leadership Foundations
When Black girls learn early that their voices carry weight, it can shape how they see themselves and the opportunities they pursue. Building leadership foundations early gives girls experience speaking up, making decisions, understanding their influence, and seeing leadership as a place where they belong.
02
For Black Women
Advancing Black Women in Leadership
When Black women have greater access to leadership and decision-making, their perspectives are more likely to be represented in the decisions that affect our workplaces, institutions, families, and communities. Advancing Black women expands who has the opportunity to shape what happens next.
HJM GELI / Youth Leadership
Youth Leadership
Holly J. Mitchell Girls Empowerment Leadership Institute
Leadership starts long before adulthood.
Over seven months, participants build leadership skills, gain practical tools and life lessons, connect with mentors, and develop the confidence to use their voices and pursue their ideas.
Named in honor of Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, the program reflects our belief that leadership development should begin early and give Black girls the space, support, and experiences to recognize their own capacity to lead.
Professional Leadership
California State University Dominguez Hills Leadership Certificate Program
Equipping Black women to lead, advance, and influence.
Offered in partnership with California State University Dominguez Hills, the Leadership Certificate Program gives Black women a structured opportunity to strengthen executive leadership skills, expand professional networks, and earn a university-backed leadership credential.
CSUDH | University-backed Certificate Pathway
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CSUDH / Certificate Program
Stories from the Collective
Leadership in Action
People, experience, and practice come together when a leadership pipeline is built with intention.
Holly J Mitchell Girls Empowerment Leadership Institute
33 Black Girls.
Big Ideas.
​Black girls stepped forward to pitch their ideas, use their voices, and put their leadership into practice during the inaugural Holly J Mitchell Girls Empowerment Leadership Institute cohort.
Our Reach
Leadership by the Numbers
33
Black girls in the inaugural HJM GELI cohort
3
CSUDH leadership cohorts graduated
55
Black women who have completed the CSUDH program
