South Dakota Change Network
Across the region, people have thoughtful ideas about helping their communities and organizations thrive. Learn tools and skills needed to bring people together, and join a support network encouraging the creation of long-lasting change.
South Dakota Change Network is a year-long cohort study program designed to share techniques and build networks giving individuals skills to help make their communities accessible and welcoming to everyone. It will prepare you to be a strong leader, one who can successfully bring together individuals with different skills, values, beliefs, and understandings to create and maintain positive change within your state.
Program Journey
South Dakota Change Network is comprised of online courses and three convenings – two in-person and one online. Online learning features a combination of self-directed lessons, interactive activities, and discussion groups designed to maximize your ability to learn as you participate. During convenings, you will have opportunities to build lasting connections with your cohort while gaining new tools and frameworks from content experts and leading faculty from universities across the United States.
Through this challenging and supportive environment, you will enhance your self-awareness, leadership skills, and abilities to implement systems change.
You see…
You want…
You’ll gain…
training, advice, and mentoring from industry experts, receiving guidance on your project as you work to realize your goal.
You’ll join…
a network of change makers from South Dakota and Native nation communities dedicated to assisting one another in their work.
Program Schedule
2023
August 16 & 22
Online Orientation
September 16-18
Making Connections In-Person Convening; Location TBD, South Dakota
Fall 2023
Online learning: Intercultural development, conflict management, and online meetings with your cohort
2024
January 12-13
Broadening Connections Online Convening
Winter 2024
Online Learning: Online meetings with your cohort, check-in calls, Planning Your Project Q&A session
Spring 2024
Online Learning: Intercultural development, conflict management, check-in calls, and online meetings with your cohort
Summer 2024
Online Learning: Intercultural development and online meetings with your cohort
September 20-22
Deepening Connections In-Person Convening; Location TBD, North Dakota
The Network’s Impact
Change Network alumni have used the knowledge and leadership skills they’ve gained in the program to work on powerful change in their organizations and communities. Take a look at some of the incredible projects they’re working on.
Your Champion
To ensure your success in the program, you are required to have support from at least one individual in your current network. This person should be able to offer wisdom, support and have expertise to help you influence and implement change in your organization and/or community.
This person will be your Champion and may be a board member, supervisor, elder or expert in your organization or a partner organization. Your Champion will not be expected to attend in-person meetings, but will be asked to participate in occasional calls with you and one of our program facilitators.
Project Grants
Participants in South Dakota Change Network will have the opportunity to apply for a small grant, up to $5,000, to assist a project which impacts the individual’s organization in positive and significant ways.
Program Cost
South Dakota Change Network is free to participants. The program’s expenses, which include accommodations and meals at each of the two in-person convenings, program materials, online learning, coaching, and support, are completely underwritten and represent a $16,500 investment in each participant.
Our Partnership
Our diverse team of leaders hail from South Dakota, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Virginia and brings the cohort cross-sector insights, expertise and resources. We intentionally work collaboratively and role model the behaviors that we want our leaders to demonstrate. The result and intent is to provide a safe and supportive environment for our leaders to experience and extend empathy, compassion, care, understanding, and tools that create lasting and meaningful change within your organizations and communities.
“I feel more confident approaching difficult conversations in general and feel a sense of duty when it comes to asking questions when someone makes comments that might make others feels excluded.”
South Dakota Change Network is funded by
