Introducing a Women in Youth Ministry Cohort

Some of my best learning in leadership has been in a cohort experience. I've had the privilege to be a part of several cohorts over the years with Jr. High Pastors, Fuller Youth Institute, and coaching groups. Many of my deepest transformations and dearest friends have come from these experiences. There's something about a shared learning environment that expedites our growth in personal, highly relational, loving, and aggressive ways. It's because of my past experiences that I'm incredibly excited about launching a cohort for women in youth ministry, launching in January 2014. The Youth Cartel is sponsoring this brave endeavor and are passionate about seeing women flourish in ministry. Already 3 of the 8 women have committed to the cohort. I'm anticipating a full house before Thanksgiving and there's already talk of a second cohort.

The Youth Cartel

Here's a little bit about the big picture of the cohort and logistics included...

DESCRIPTION:

This 10 month whole-life coaching program is all about developing and empowering you as a woman in leadership. Being a woman in youth ministry is different. It demands unique skills and awareness as we approach the challenges and opportunities due to our gender. We will learn across a scope of subjects including theology, practical life realities, leading men, and issues defined by this group. This specialized cohort has 8 women in leadership, and meets twice for 2 days plus 4 times online (2-3 hours each). Each time is very intentional and structured to provide encouragement, challenge, and transformation. This cohort provides customized attention to your specific context and needs as a woman in youth ministry.

DETAILS:

  • We journey together for 10-months and the group chooses exact dates based on our schedules.
    • January - face-to-face
    • February - online
    • April - online
    • June - online
    • August - online
    • September - face-to-face
  • Two 2-day, face-to-face meetings in Orange County, CA (at Newsong Church)
  • Four online meetings of 2-3 hours (via Google Hangout)
  • Participants get four 30-minute phone calls with April Diaz
  • Access to a private Facebook group for ongoing support, connection, and interaction
  • Cost - $1750 (+ participant travel costs)

We'll do a fair amount of reading and cross-disciplinary learning, as well.

Some may  look at the cost and discount their participation. I've come to believe, "where there's a will, there's a way." If this is something you'd benefit from, let's find a way! I've also participated int similar cohorts and paid a lot more. It's one of the best investments, in my opinion, you can make in your leadership. The learning you'll have from the other women and myself will be beyond a conference and these detailed bullet points! And you are worth the investment. Our churches, families, and students desperately NEED the voices of women pouring into them, making decisions, and engaging each other.

Already, the women committed to this cohort are proving we will be learning from across life stages, time zones, denominations, educational backgrounds, and ministry experiences. This is the context by which we are ripe for change!

Interested? Questions? Ready to apply? Connect with me.

2 Comments

April L. Diaz

April has been a visionary activist her entire life. She has made it her mission to lead high performing teams and develop leaders in the margins of society while caring for our bodies, mind, and spirit. Secretly, she’s a mix of a total girly girl and a tomboy, and is still crazy about her high school sweetheart, Brian. Together, they co-parent 3 fabulous kiddos and live in Orange County, CA.

Welcome to aprildiaz.com

I started blogging at Plan A Ethiopia in early 2009 when we moved from a season of devastating infertility into a hopeful adoption journey. Since then, I’ve been amazed at the power of the global community. After nearly 200,000 visits on my adoption/parenting blog, this website was born.

I’m a big believer that “God’s word to us is almost always for the other” (an idea attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer). Over the years I’ve fallen in love with multiple groups of people - and the interplay between them! - as I’ve worked with these amazing folks.

  • Leaders
  • Orphans and the foster care/adoption community
  • Women, particularly working moms and vulnerable women
  • Teenagers

Somedays, these are disconnected smatterings of people. Other days, they are inextricably bound. Everyday, they carry a part of my heart.

If you know me, you know that I’m a working paradox. I’m fierce yet tender, faith filled yet deeply struggling, fun yet stupidly serious, future focused and desperately practicing to “be here now”.

This site is truly a working expression of who I am and what I do. At my core, I’m all about team. My hope for this site is that it would create forums for conversation and action. And that God would use my voice to build a collective voice into a community.

When I started blogging in 2009 I had no idea what was to come. May this site also be immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine [Ephesians 3:20-21].

Thanks for stopping by! Join the journey with me.

1 Comment

April L. Diaz

April has been a visionary activist her entire life. She has made it her mission to lead high performing teams and develop leaders in the margins of society while caring for our bodies, mind, and spirit. Secretly, she’s a mix of a total girly girl and a tomboy, and is still crazy about her high school sweetheart, Brian. Together, they co-parent 3 fabulous kiddos and live in Orange County, CA.

Moving to aprildiaz.com

Within the next couple weeks the first blog I birthed into this world will grow up and move to

aprildiaz.com

I've been hoping to launch this website for well over 18 months and with the release of my first book, Redefining the Role of the Youth Worker, due out October 1st, I decided now was the time to make the move. (Did I mention it's my first book?!?!...horray!!!)


The launch of the website will most definitely still include blogging our parenting journey. But it will expand to include more of "who I am" and "what I do".

I'll have more of a platform to share "who I am" with the other areas I'm passionate about, like

  • the church
  • leadership
  • women 
  • teenagers
  • in addition to my HUGE passion for adoption and orphan care. 

I love these people and the interplay between these worlds, especially as it relates to leaders!!

I hope aprildiaz.com will also provide opportunities to offer "what I do" with the world. Specifically, I know this next season of life I must increasingly be about

  • leadership development
  • coaching/consulting 
  • writing 
  • speaking

My website will provide a place for those things to happen, particularly with people and organizations God's aligning for partnership.

When I'm at my best I am fostering forums for conversation and action. I certainly have a voice in those areas above, but I deeply desire to build a collective voice into those communities of people.

Bookmark your favorite internet browser and come on over to aprildiaz.com. I'm so VERY excited about this next season of life and ministry.

Thank you for journeying with me here. When I started this blog it was merely to share with family and close friends our adoption of Baby Ethiopia. Four years and three kids later, I am forever changed. Plan A Ethiopia has been visited nearly 200,000 times and has held my heart in 368 posts. It holds true that God will do "immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine".

I hope our life continues to be an "only God" kind of story. It's the only one worth living.

With Love and Gratitude.
april

Comment

April L. Diaz

April has been a visionary activist her entire life. She has made it her mission to lead high performing teams and develop leaders in the margins of society while caring for our bodies, mind, and spirit. Secretly, she’s a mix of a total girly girl and a tomboy, and is still crazy about her high school sweetheart, Brian. Together, they co-parent 3 fabulous kiddos and live in Orange County, CA.