The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio has selected 15 accomplished local professionals for Class 32 of its African American Leadership Development Program.
For more than three decades, the Urban League’s premier leadership program has helped prepare senior-level African American professionals for greater community and organizational impact. The immersive civic learning initiative aims to sharpen their professional skills through a rigorous curriculum focused on leadership development and key community issues.
Past AALDP graduates include Salimah Abdul-Hakim, founder and CEO of Soleil Kitchen; Barbara Bell, district director for U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman; Rickell Howard Smith, president and CEO of YWCA Greater Cincinnati; Rasheda Cromwell, VP of community strategies at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation; and Kick Lee, executive director of the Cincinnati Music Accelerator.
Cohort 32 includes leaders from business, healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors. The full list is available below.
Over the next 10 months, the AALDP participants will dive into hands-on learning experiences designed to sharpen their leadership skills and set them up for future success. Through 10 interactive sessions led by nationally recognized facilitators, they’ll explore their strengths, tackle real community challenges, and expand their professional networks. The program also gives participants a closer look at Cincinnati’s cultural history, local power structures, government, advocacy and economics – all through the lens of Black history and experience.
As Cohort 32 gets underway, the Urban League is already looking ahead to the next group of leaders. Applications for Class 33 will open in spring 2026.
“The Urban League is proud to continue its tradition of helping African American leaders develop their personal and professional skills, connect with one another and learn how they can further contribute to the success of the community as well as their organizations,” said Christie Kuhns, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio and a graduate of AALDP Class 29.
Urban League AALDP Class 32
- Jordan Bankston, Forever Kings Inc.
- Felicia Bell, Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association
- Gaines Brown III, The Village of Lincoln Heights
- Amber Carter, Kroger
- Kabrella Clark, Cincinnati Regional Chamber
- Kimberly Freeman, Great Oaks Career Campuses
- Whitney Gaskins, The Gaskins Foundation
- Dawn Johnson, Home Solutions Near Me; North Avondale Neighborhood Association; Healing Hearts & Hands Women’s Health Center
- Kristina Johnson, Cincinnati Works
- Jenise K. Lee, Grace Noir Management & Consulting
- Tia Rochelle, JahniSpot Concierge
- Cicely Tingle, UC Health
- Trenton Watkins, Triversity Construction
- Dr. Russell E. Whitney, II, ULGSO
- Nicole Williams, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
Leadership Development Program
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