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iLEAP
Also Known As: iLEAP: The Center for Critical Service
PO Box 15405 Seattle, WA 98103

GENERAL INFORMATION

Who We Are

iLEAP: The Center for Critical Service is a 501c3, tax-exempt nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate and inspire a new generation of global citizens who are motivated by a commitment to service and have the practical skills, rigorous critical thinking, and global community of support to create positive social and systemic change in the world. In the pursuit of this mission, iLEAP designs and delivers a variety of experiential educational programs that serve as the catalyst for this new generation, and, work to nurture meaningful collaborations between people, organizations, and community.

• This organization is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity .
• This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
• Additional narrative information in this report was last supplied by the organization on February 25, 2009.
• Contributions are deductible, as provided by law.

How to Help

This organization is seeking funds from contributions and grants. These funds will be used for unrestricted operating expenses and special projects.

Location(s) Served

• Seattle, Washington
• International: Asia, Africa, Latin America

NTEE Code

• Q20—Promotion of International Understanding
• S01—Alliance/Advocacy Organizations
• W70—Leadership Development

Chief Executive

Dr. Britt Yamamoto

Chief Executive Profile

Britt has long found great inspiration and support from people who engage life with a passion that comes from unbridled curiosity, a sharp and critical intellect, and a rich sense of humor. In this way, it could be said that he was drawn to iLEAP in search of more friends. As someone who has worked in and around the nonprofit sector for over a decade as a board member, program manager, volunteer and director, and been entrenched in the Academy for even longer, Britt has witnessed his share of terribly important--but uninspired, ineffective and utterly humorless--initiatives. For him, iLEAP is an opportunity to think creatively about the relationship between personal growth and social change and to push ourselves to work in collaboration with one another and rigorously engage the challenges of life while, at the same time, not take ourselves too seriously. Possible? iLEAP wouldn't be iLEAP if he didn't believe it to be so. Not to disregard convention, Britt holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Michigan in English Literature, a Master of Science (M.S.) from the University of California at Davis in Community Development, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography from the University of Washington where he specialized in development studies, critical perspectives on service and civil society, and the political ecology of food and agriculture. He is a Core Faculty member in the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University, Seattle and currently a World Affairs Council Fellow. He has extensive international experience in Asia and Latin America, been a Fulbright Fellow to Japan, and the recipient of a number of awards, including, being a Diversity Scholar of the Adult Higher Education Alliance, the University of Washington 's Excellence in Teaching Award, and the highly prestigious and ultra competitive 'Nice Papa' award from a Japanese mothering magazine.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MISSION AND PROGRAMS

Mission

The iLEAP Mission is to cultivate and inspire a new generation of global citizens who are motivated by a commitment to service and have the practical skills, rigorous critical thinking, and global community of support to create positive social and systemic change in the world.

Programs

iLEAP International Fellowship: The iLEAP International Fellowship program brings leaders from civil society organizations working for positive social change in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, to Seattle, Washington for a 3 month intensive program in professional skill building, academic study, and global networking. The Fellowship program is organized around the central themes of: social enterprise, reflective practice, collaborative leadership, and social and environmental sustainability. It is designed to leverage the remarkable human resource base in the Seattle area working on these issues. iLEAP Fellows engage in an three-part, integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum that has them both learning in the classroom and in the community. Each week, Fellows: Participate in academic seminars led by experts in the four central themes of the program. These seminars range in their content and application?from discourses in critical social theory to the practical application of online communication techniques. Collaborate with Seattle-based organizations who are engaged in activities related to the Fellow?s interests. This regular interaction happens 2-3 days a week. Listen to and share stories with people in the Seattle area who have worked, served and led social enterprises. Taken together, this integrated curriculum offers Fellows a unique and rare opportunity to inspire their creativity and to sharpen their thinking; while at the same time, building meaningful relationships with people in the Seattle area who share a common vision to affect positive social change in communities around the world. Taking the LEAP: Taking the LEAP: LEAPing into a Global Community of Social Change Taking the LEAP (TTL) is a global, three phased program that balances personal growth, critical thinking and academic theory with a pragmatic training in project design, development and implementation. The first phase of the TTL program is spent in Seattle, Washington working closely with iLEAP staff and faculty in seminar coursework while also working in social enterprise based in Seattle. Each student is placed in a different organization and is, from the beginning, in contact with their iLEAP International Faculty member through the connection with the iLEAP International Fellowship program. The second phase of TTL takes each student overseas to live and work in a different rural community in Asia, Africa or Latin America to work with iLEAP International Faculty. During this period, students are challenged to extend and apply concepts learned in the first phase of the program. Students live with a local family and experience day-to-day rural life while they work with and learn from iLEAP faculty. In the third, and final, phase, students return to the Seattle area for a time of reflection, sharing and preparations for the future. Seminal to this phase is to explore the question: how will I bring home and integrate my overseas experience with my next steps in life? Social Innovation in Seattle: iLEAP offers a unique internship for university students from Asia and Europe, based in Seattle, Washington, USA. This program is called Social Innovation in Seattle. Through direct internships in American organizations and businesses, this program introduces students to the fundamentals of social enterprise and social innovation in business practice. Unlike typical internship programs, the Social Innovation in Seattle comprehensive internship program, students are active participants in their placements and their work is complemented by lectures from experts in the field and individualized advising with professional staff. Taken together, this makes for a comprehensive program that brings together theory and practice.

GOALS AND RESULTS

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2008

1. Successful International Fellowship program (visit ileap.org/fellowsblog08 for more information)
2. Successful Social Innovation in Seattle program (visit ileap.org/rikkyoaug08 for more information)
3. Successful fundraising benefit (visit ileap.org for photos)

Objectives for Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2009

1. International Fellowship program (April 2009-June 2009)
2. Commencement of Taking the Leap program (Spring 2009)
3. Social Innovation programs throughout summer 2009.

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