Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development (LEAD): A Latina Leadership and Community Engagement Model on the US-Mexico Border

Abstract:This article presents the Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development (LEAD) initiative, as an emerging leadership and community engagement model for Latinas in the El Paso del Norte Border Region. Through a community-university partnership, this initiative was a response to a call to action generated from a series of consultations between researchers and Latinas that took place in public libraries and community centers in El Paso, Texas. This call to action led to the LEAD initiative, an executive leadership curriculum for Latinas to address their needs and priorities in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. This study presents a unique leadership model that combines leadership studies with community engagement and social justice. This example of feminist praxis applies leadership knowledge and skills toward improving the personal and collective quality of life for women and their families.