Emerging Leaders

Training Name

Emerging Leaders

Training Description

The Emerging Leaders Learning Collaborative is a group focused on developing the next generation of leaders of color in violence prevention. Facilitated by Abrigal Forrester and Leslie Rivera, emerging leaders receive coaching and targeted professional development and build a network of fellow emerging leaders. Leaders evaluate passions and skills, set goals, gain understanding of how systemic racism influences professional settings, and develop strategies to overcome systemic barriers.

Training Type

In-person Workshop Series

Training Topic

Professional growth, development, leadership skills

Training Learning Objectives

• Assess passions and skills – Participants will complete a self-assessment and identify at least 3 personal strengths and 2 areas for growth related to their professional roles.
• Set professional goals – Participants will develop at least 2 SMART professional goals, including clear action steps and timelines for achievement.
• Understand the impact of systemic racism in professional settings – Participants will identify at least 3 ways systemic racism influences professional environments and participate in at least one discussion or activity exploring these impacts.
• Develop strategies to overcome systemic barriers – Participants will identify at least 2 strategies to address systemic barriers and outline how they can apply one strategy in their work context.
• Strengthen professional growth and leadership skills – Participants will engage in at least 2 professional development or leadership-focused sessions and identify 3 skills or practices to support their ongoing growth and leadership development.

Training Syllabus / Curriculum

• Reflecting on personal passions, strengths, and leadership potential
• Setting meaningful professional and leadership goals
• Understanding how systemic racism shapes professional environments
• Building strategies to navigate and overcome systemic barriers
• Strengthening leadership, professional growth, and career development skills
• Connecting with and learning alongside a network of emerging leaders of color

Instructor Information

Abrigal Forrester; Leslie Rivera

Center for Teen Empowerment / UTEC

Abrigal Forrester is the Executive Director of The Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc., which helps low-income, urban youth hone their understanding of the social problems they face and use their talents and skills to create change in their own lives and in their communities. A lifelong resident of Boston, he holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UMass Boston and is completing a Master's in Public Policy at Tufts University. Leslie Rivera is a dedicated community advocate, youth worker, and mentor from Lowell, Massachusetts, with 31 years of experience in youth development — 18 of those years spent at UTEC. As Senior Director of Training and Capacity Building at UTEC's Training Center for Excellence, she has championed the importance of culture, advocating for the recognition and appreciation of direct service staff. A trained Peacemaking Circle Keeper and culture keeper, Leslie brings deep expertise in gang mediation, peace treaties, street outreach, and community healing. Her leadership at UTEC has included managing the Streetworker and Transitional Coaching teams, serving on the Theory of Change committee, and chairing the DEI Advisory Committee. Leslie is not only committed to professional excellence but also to transformative leadership. For her, leadership is about leading by example—rooted in equity and fostering an environment where everyone collaborates and supports one another. Beyond her professional achievements, Leslie is also a mother, grandmother, and a mentor who celebrates culture while uplifting those who work on the front lines of community service.