In 2016, Rockwood Leadership Institute engaged Learning for Action (LFA) to conduct an independent evaluation of Rockwood’s cohort-based fellowships, including contributions to individual and movement-level outcomes.
Through a survey and sets of interviews, LFA gathered information from 122 Rockwood fellowship alums. Based on these data, LFA produced the following summaries and reports.
SummaryLFA found that by participating in a Rockwood fellowship, fellows build the skills, knowledge, and practices to strengthen their leadership and make deep connections with other leaders. In turn, Rockwood fellows are able to develop shared visions and create alliances within and across issue areas, resulting in stronger social change movements.
The survey results indicate that investment in cohort-based leadership programs results in more effective leaders, and, in turn, more effective movements. Based on responses from survey participants, four key successes of Rockwood’s fellowships are: Confidence + Clarity, Leadership Sustainability, Co-Powering, and Shared Vision + Alliance Building.
“The willingness to engage and start from common purpose and then work out from there to address difference has been a transformational way of doing the work that has opened up possibilities that would never have been there before.”
Investing in leadership development through cohort-based fellowships can and does contribute to movement-level wins. Rockwood’s tools are a blend of movement-agnostic frameworks. By bringing leaders together to learn and apply those tools in an issue-focused space, Rockwood creates a unique opportunity for movement leaders to come together around a shared vision.
Rockwood and LFA would like to thank the Rockwood alums who took time to share about their Rockwood experiences. We would also like to thank Rockwood staff, trainers, and board members for their partnership, time, and feedback.
Finally, we extend a special thanks to The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, and Open Society Foundations for making this evaluation possible.
