New Leaders Council, Orange County

New Leaders Council (NLC) works to train and support the progressive political entrepreneurs of tomorrow — trendsetters, elected officials and civically engaged leaders in business and industry who will shape the landscape. NLC recruits young men and women from outside traditional power structures and equips them with the skills necessary to be civic leaders in their communities and workplaces.

Our mission is realized primarily through the NLC Institute; the nation’s premiere political entrepreneurship training program that is building teams of outstanding young professionals in 20 cities across the country. NLC graduates are an ever-expanding corps of diverse, new progressive leaders who are rising to the top of their respective fields. NLC is creating an exciting network of individuals, highly-skilled in working together across sectors to improve the progressive infrastructure and ensure strong democracy, social justice, and equal opportunity.

In 2012, NLC expanded its chapter family to Orange County where it has traditionally been a conservative area in a progressive state. The founding board members believed that building an infrastructure for young progressive entrepreneurs to thrive would help the county flourish and even retain its young talent. So, with the advice of the California chapters in NLC, a chapter institute was born. One year later, Orange County has been successful in coalition building, partnering, and retaining the local young progressives to help make a difference.