Become a Partner

Partner with PLP

The Pioneer Leadership Program (PLP) at the University of Denver promotes strong leadership through giving, intellectual engagement, personal development opportunities, and engaged service in the community.  The PLP program combines an academic minor in Leadership Studies and a first-year living and learning component, allowing students to share residential and academic experiences. 

Students in the Pioneer Leadership Program earn a minor in Leadership Studies.  This immersion in leadership training and experience provides students with a broad preparation for their careers and lives after graduation.  The program advances students understanding of themselves as leaders and followers, relevant leadership theory and research, skills and competencies that support leadership effectiveness, a more fully developed code of personal and organizational ethics, and an enhanced sense of social responsibility and citizenship.

If you have a community learning field placement to invite students to volunteer or an internship, please reach out to George Bolanos at george.bolanos@du.edu

 

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PLP has opened up the future for many of us in one way or the other. By implementing a multi-faceted curriculum in, out, and beyond the program, we are able to pull from each others' skills and passions. Through learning the fundamentals of leadership and applying them into community change initiatives, a larger world has been opened to us. Putting the best of the best on campus together in residence hall living and in the leadership classroom is guaranteed to produce results. Jessica Hunter, PLP student
PLP has opened doors to my future through partnerships with the leaders both students and professionals throughout the Denver community. Jason Lundberg, PLP student

A Sample of Our Current Community Partners:

  • A Little Help 
  • Access Gallery/VSA Colorado 
  • Asbury Elementary School – Special Education Room 
  • Café 180 
  • Children’s Hospital Colorado 
  • Denver Urban Debate League 
  • Dumb Friends League 
  • The Gathering Place 
  • Girls Inc. of Metro Denver 
  • Kavod Senior Life 
  • Metro Caring 
  • Metro D.N.A 
  • Place Bridge View Cap 
  • Project C.U.R.E 
  • Project Helping 
  • Reading Partners 
  • Red Equity 
  • Swedish Medical Center

Partnership Overview

The University of Denver’s Pioneer Leadership Program (PLP) seeks to link formal leadership learning with experience through community involvement. Students will spend a year of engaged service in a nonprofit or local school that is focused on a social issue for which they are passionate.   

To guide students and community partners in choosing more transformative service that has tangible learning opportunities for the student and a real contribution to the partner site, the following principles should guide a community/student partnership:  

Principle 1: Learn in the community. PLP seeks to involve students in engaged service that helps students learn about issues and priorities in the Denver community. It gets students off campus, often on public transportation, and helps them to see the Denver culture and community through the nonprofit, government, or education sector.  This insight helps students to identify gaps and begin to think about sustainable ways to take next steps.   

Principle 2: Direct and Partnered Service. PLP seeks opportunities for its students that provide direct contact with the community served, and also ensures that each party will benefit from the year-long partnership.  It is important to know people in the community and be known.  Our relationships are cultivated so they provide connectedness and expand one’s network now and in the future.   

Principle 3: Leadership Development. Service opportunities strengthen the knowledge and application of related leadership theories. In addition, they expand the experiences of students in complex life issues through personal and leadership development.

Community partners should expect the following from the PLP student:  

  1. A full academic year of service with a regular and consistent schedule  
  2. Thorough and excellent service with clear and open communication about breaks, etc.
  3. Fresh perspective and engaged energy from a young, emerging leader
  
  4. Potential long-term relationship that extends through the student’s four years  

PLP students can expect the following from the community partner:

  1. Service focus that fulfills the three principles outlined above  
  2. Opportunities to hone leadership skills and pursue personal development goals  
  3. Access to top leadership for interviews, observation and interaction  
  4. Evaluation and feedback from community leaders

Leadership Partners

DU's Pioneer Leadership Program is a proud member of the Colorado Leadership Alliance (CLA).  CLA is a member of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation's family of esteemed leadership programs. 

Throughout the year, many CLA-sponsored events allow the collaboration of both students and program directors from each member campus as they share resources, efforts and ideas, as well as foster professional and personal connections. The annual CLA Summit brings renowned leaders to speak and interact with students, directors, and friends of CLA. 

CLA unites the comprehensive undergraduate leadership training programs of the following institutions: Colorado State University-Ft. Collins, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Johnson & Wales University, the United States Air Force Academy, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, University of Colorado-Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado and Regis University 

PLP is also proud to have the following partners as we engage in leadership development and student success: 

  • Boettcher Foundation 
  • Colorado Leadership Alliance 
  • C. Charles Jackson Foundation 
  • Daniels Fund 
  • El Pomar Foundation 

Interested in Becoming a Partner with PLP? Please contact George Bolanos at george.bolanos@du.edu.