Leadership Initiatives
NextUp – Youth Leadership Program
Next Up is a leadership development program for young people ages 19 to 32 interested in social and environmental justice. Heading into its fifth year, NextUp is now running in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon. Over an intensive 7 months these emerging leaders delve into a number of topics and disciplines, combining theory, practice, deep thinking, and hard skills. After graduation participants become part of the NextUp alumni network, supporting one another in projects and coordinating campaigns. The alumni network also gathers each year to engage in strategic planning on local and national issues. Recognizing the importance of nurturing this generation of leaders, the Columbia Institute is proud to be able to support the innovative work of NextUp and its young leaders.