Clinton School student Katie Milligan (’13) partnered with the Junior League of Little Rock to develop a curriculum and guide for a course to create active, effective and knowledgeable nonprofit board members.
Milligan researched several other similar national programs and spoke with nonprofit organizations and possible participants to identify the themes and course subjects that would be the most valuable to educate interested individuals on nonprofit boards of directors. These themes were used to inform the development of course materials and appropriateness for the Little Rock area.
The Junior League of Little Rock plans to implement this course based on the recommendations and curriculum guide developed by Milligan. The vision of the program is to enhance, diversify and educate the pool of qualified applicants for nonprofit boards of directors in Central Arkansas. The program will be open to any interested community members.
“Surveying nonprofits both formally and casually it is apparent that there is a need for greater diversity of age, gender and experience on nonprofit Boards,” said Maggie Young, president of the Junior League. “We hope to offer a unique training opportunity for all interested citizens to better prepare themselves to serve in community leadership roles such as a board of directors position. We know that the greatest positive community impact will be made when all interested citizens have the necessary skill set to create such change.”
Milligan is completing the project as part of her Capstone project, one of the three field service projects completed during the Clinton School Master of Public Service degree program. Her other field work during her time at the Clinton School includes projects with Habitat for Humanity in Pretoria, South Africa and the UAMS Center for Rural Health. She will graduate in May.
About the Junior League of Little Rock:
The Junior League of Little Rock is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.