The racebrook center for advanced learning
Fall 2024 Course Catalog
This Fall RCAL is Offering SIX Courses!
check out these incredible opportunities
Course 1
I'm in HR, Now What?
Course 2
Strategies for Meaningful Board Engagement
Course 3
Leadership of Self & others across your organization
Course 4
emotional intelligence
Course 5
mastering grant writing
Module 6
Unity in Community- Inclusion Practices
The Courses
Each course runs for two to five weeks, following a comprehensive curriculum designed by expert faculty. Students are encouraged to take multiple classes, as many of them build upon each other to create a comprehensive leadership curriculum.
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The Courses
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The Faculty
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The Details
Course 1
I'm in HR, Now What?
with Allie Levene Esq.
Founder, Levene Legal
This course is ideal for those new to the HR field or assuming HR responsibilities, providing essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage and support their workforce. Participants will gain a solid foundation in key areas like hiring, onboarding, performance management, and employment law compliance through interactive sessions and practical exercises.
The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
10:00am - 12:00pm
- October 2nd
- October 9th
- October 16th
- October 23rd
- October 30th
Course 2
Strategies for Meaningful Board Engagement
with Kim-Bianca Burgess
Founder, VCL Consulting Group
This course is perfect for those seeking to enhance their board's effectiveness and engagement, offering essential strategies to boost productivity, improve decision-making, and manage conflict. Participants will gain practical insights and tools to strengthen board engagement, covering key topics like behavior management, decision-making, and conflict resolution.
The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
1:00pm - 2:30pm
- October 10th
- October 17th
- October 24th
Course 3
Unity in Community- Inclusion Practices for Leadership of Self, Team, & Organization
with Brennden Colbert
CEO, The Colbert Group
Equip yourself with skills and strategies to foster fairness and inclusivity in your organization with Brennden Colbert! Both seasoned and emerging leaders will be empowered to drive positive change and cultivate diverse teams.
1:00pm - 3:00pm
The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
- October 23rd
- October 30th
- November 6th
Course 4
Mastering Grant Writing: Fundamentals & Business Development
with Mari Serrano
Founder, The Cadence of Social Impact
Unlock the potential of your grant writing career with our comprehensive two-part workshop series. Designed for aspiring grant writers, non-profit professionals, and entrepreneurs, this series will equip you with essential skills in crafting compelling grant proposals and developing a successful grant-writing business.
The Connecticut Women's Consortium of Greater New Haven
1:00pm - 3:00pm
- October 2nd
- October 9th
Course 5
Leadership Self & Others Across Your Organization
with Mike Teape
Founder, Teape Training International
Unlock your leadership potential with the first course in this series lead by Mike Teape! Learn about the essentials of leadership, enhance self-awareness with the ‘DiSC” tool, and explore new ways to drive growth and innovation.
The Connecticut Women's Consortium of Greater New Haven
9:00am - 11:00am
- November 5th
- November 12th
- November 19th
- December 3rd
- December 10th
Course 6
Emotional Intelligence
with Dr. Natasha Wright MSW
CEO, Pathways to Wellness Women's Center
Give your leadership toolkit a boost with our Emotional Intelligence course with Natasha Wright! Learn new ways to inspire your team, enhance communication, foster safe spaces, and build a more resilient workplace culture.
9:00am - 11:00am
The Connecticut Women's Consortium of Greater New Haven
- November 6th
- November 13th
- November 20th
- December 4rd
- December 11th
Allie Levene (she/her)
Founder & Attorney
Levene Legal
Allie’s experience ranges from the boardroom to the courtroom - and the classroom. Before founding Levene Legal, she served as in-house and outside counsel for a number of Connecticut businesses, including many small businesses and nonprofits. In those roles, she represented clients in litigation and administrative proceedings related to employment, civil rights, and general liability. Time and time again, Allie noticed that many of the issues faced by her clients could have been avoided with proactive legal services. Thus, Levene Legal was born. Levene Legal is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible employment law services to Connecticut small businesses and nonprofits.
Kim Bianca Burgess (she/her)
Founder & President
VCL Consulting & SEAT CT
With over twenty-five years’ experience as a professional speaker, facilitator and educator, KimBianca Burgess has extensive experience delivering a variety of seminars to audiences across the country. Her corporate background gives her added depth and insight into the needs of today’s professionals, and her presentations reflect her knowledge and expertise. Coupled with her commitment to improving the social capital of marginalized residents in minority communities, her professional development platform offers performance improvement opportunities for everyone!
Brennden Colbert (he/him)
Founder & CEO
The Colbert Group
Brennden is the founder and managing partner of The Colbert Group, a Connecticut-based consulting firm dedicated to creating and facilitating inspirational workshops, content creation, and men's fashion consulting. With over six years of non-profit leadership experience, he has successfully overcome barriers throughout his career, showcasing resilience and determination. His diverse skills in program development, project management, and public speaking complement his role as a self-taught community leader and entrepreneur. Brennden believes that everyone is a "gift to the world" and is passionate about helping individuals discover and embrace their unique potential.
Mariana Serrano (Mari) (she/they)
Founder & Grant Writer
The Cadence of Social Impact
Mariana Serrano, MPH (she/they), is a dedicated public health practitioner and the visionary Founder of The Cadence of Social Impact, a pioneering social enterprise focused on empowering communities by building resources and supporting community-led initiatives. With a deep commitment to advancing health equity and driving transformative leadership, Mariana has devoted years to working with communities, non-profits, healthcare institutions, and academia. Her work centers on advocating for social justice through innovative research, health programming, and business development. Mariana’s mission is to transform community efforts into impactful and innovative strategies that enhance the health and well-being of all individuals.
Michael Teape (he/him)
Founder & Lead Training Consultant
Teape Training International
With over 25 years of experience, Mike Teape specializes in business and personal effectiveness training, coaching, and strategy development for global corporations and small to mid-sized businesses. He brings decades of experience in leadership coaching, facilitation, and communication skills enhancement to help clients achieve their goals and improve business effectiveness.
Dr. Natasha Wright LCSW (Dr. Tasha) (she/her)
Founder & CEO
Pathways to Wellness CT
Uplift. Empower. Encourage. These three words define Dr. Natasha’s life mission. Dr. Natasha’s greatest desire is to help you become the best version of yourself. Life can sometimes catch us off guard. In life’s tough moments having someone to say it’s okay, you can succeed, and overcome can make a huge difference. Dr. Natasha Wright, CEO of Pathways to Wellness Women’s Center, holds a Ph.D. in Human and social Services and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. Natasha is an experienced licensed clinical Social Worker with a focus on women’s issues, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Specializing in therapy and coaching for Black women, she combines cultural sensitivity with expertise to foster resilience and well-being.
Class Schedules
I'm in HR, Now What? | Meaningful Board Diversification | Unity inCommunity | MasteringGrant Writing | Leadership ofSelf &Others | Emotional Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 2nd | October 10th | October 23rd | October 2nd | November 5th | November 6th |
October 9th | October 17th | October 30th | October 9th | November 12th | November 13th |
October 16th | October 24th | November 6th | Cell | November 19th | November 20th |
October 23rd | Cell | Cell | Cell | December 3rd | December 4th |
October 30th | Cell | Cell | Cell | December 10th | December 11th |
Location (Course 1, 2, & 3)
The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1964, this dynamic, pro-active organization lives by its motto, Advancing the Regional Agenda through Business Leadership. The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce represents the Connecticut business community of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, and the surrounding area. The Chamber is currently comprised of a cross-section of our area’s businesses large & small and across many sectors which include financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, professional services, technology, transportation, utilities, and non-profit. As a member-driven organization, the Chamber relies on many volunteer businesses and community leaders to achieve its mission.
10 Progress Dr, Suite 2E, Shelton, CT 06484
Location (Course 4, 5, & 6)
The Connecticut Women's Consortium
All of the classes in this series will be held at the Connecticut Women's Consortium! The Women's Consortium is dedicated to advancing the well-being of women through innovative programs, advocacy, and education. Their mission is to empower women by providing the resources, support, and opportunities needed to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. RCAL is proud to be partnering with an organization that is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of women everywhere and strives to create a world where women can thrive both personally and professionally.
2321 Whitney Ave #401, Hamden, CT 06518
