The Pathways Program

The Barton Institute’s Pathways Program engages mid-career, metro Denver-based social sector leaders with historically marginalized identities (BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and leaders with disabilities) in Metro Denver organizations through one-year mentoring relationships with a mentors who share similar lived experiences and professional expertise. 

This Pathways Program seeks to create a dynamic environment for participants to accelerate their learning and deepen their connections within the sector through a combination of cohort-based learning and personalized one-to-one mentoring sessions with an experienced mentor. Leaders connect with like-minded peers dedicated to making a positive impact through their bold visions for social change.

Process

An intentional process was developed to select a cohort of Leaders and Mentors with historically marginalized identities to participate in the Pathways Program.

Key Program Elements

Input

Leaders have substantial input into who their Mentors are and vice versa.

Connection

Leaders and Mentors get to know, learn, and work with each other over the course of a year through a variety of opportunities.

Paid

Leaders and Mentors are paid for their time for participating in the program.

We are thrilled to welcome our inaugural cohort of ten exceptional non-profit leaders to the Pathways Program:

Program Background

In early 2024, the Barton Institute engaged in community listening. We wanted to hear from organizational leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, and/or as someone with a disability to learn about their challenges and the barriers they face while trying to do their work.

In total, we talked with 50 leaders of social change organizations, and here is what we heard:

  • Leaders with marginalized identities are seeking connection and support.

  • Leaders with marginalized identities are burnt out and exhausted.

  • Funding appeared rapidly in the early pandemic years and has begun to disappear. Many participants shared challenges in scaling up and down with the availability of funding.

  • Funders are less committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-centered efforts and in the growth/stability of leaders with marginalized identities.

  • Current funding and philanthropic support rarely acknowledges or addresses intersectionality (race, gender, sexual orientation, language, immigration status, disability, etc.) within communities and experiences.

In addition to these themes, leaders shared that they need:

  • Space and time for community and connection;

  • Hyper-individualized, intensive, identity-based mentorship;

  • Ongoing capacity building and sustainability support for themselves and their organizations; and

  • The sector as a whole should engage in education and coaching about the challenges facing social change leaders and their organizations.

Equipped with this information and to ensure the program is grounded in the rich wisdom and experience within the sector, the Barton Institute recruited eight individuals to provide “Wise Counsel” as we developed and began to implement the program. These exceptional leaders helped shape the program while focusing on not duplicating existing efforts, centering the needs and experiences of mid-career leaders, and ensuring deep impact.