LIFE LEADERS AMERICA
Plans & Personal Leadership, Character Traits Courage & Compassion, Patriotism in Action
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Plan for School and Life
Plan for School & Life
Compassion Ranch
Patriotism in Action
Plan: To help schools and teachers help students to write plans for life while in school: College-Career-Character Readiness. This will boost attitude, attendance, and achievement. It is a best practice for student development not yet implemented in most schools.
Ranch: To show compassionate care with animals needing sanctuary, feed, and care, plus character traits development in students and adults (courage, compassion, cooperation)--the root cause for abandonment of animals by former students.
Patriotism: To provide USA teachers with info about the founding of America's Veterans Day (Alabama 1947) and the character traits associated with that national history.
Patriotism in Action
Veterans Day Founding History and Character Education. Provide the "who, when, where" component to Veterans Day Founding History and Character education with a web site and free resources for teachers, students, veterans. www.VeteransDayFoundingEducation.us
Led the campaign for Alabama in 2012 to gain the U.S. Senate Resolution restoring historical leadership.
2022 campaign of education putting posters in schools, veteran, and patriotic organizations.
Publish the book that tells this national history, Patriotism in Action, which includes a patriotic guide.
Teacher training
Students learn freedom lives because we have freedom to flourish and why connected to Veterans Day, Civil Rights Movement, and character traits such as Patriotism, Courage, Perseverance....
Also, teach how to take action to Flourish with Plans for School and Life.
Compassion Ranch
Compassionate care of animals and character traits mandated to teach in schools
Show students and support teaching character traits courage, compassion, cooperation, citizenship.
Offer training to teachers and parents.
Provide resources printed and online.
Ranch experiences with rescued horses....
Master Your Goliaths: Best practices for change, development, and problem resolution. How to set achievable resolutions.
Veterans Making Comebacks: Homeless veterans assess themselves and write plans for life to inspire and guide them to self reliance and sustainability. They learn of best-self leadership, post traumatic growth, and positive triggers to develop positive habits and respond better to stresses.
Where we work
Awards
Above and Beyond Award 2017
American Village Citizenship Trust
Affiliations & memberships
Above and Beyond Award, American Village 2017
External reviews
Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
7 Areas of Calling
I. Preparation for School, Profession, Life, Citizenship, Leadership
Best-Self Leadership: so students and professionals learn common denominators of doing our best regardless of academic, professional, or other life choice with a written strategy for doing our best we can use and teach, better prepared to serve.
Plan for School and the 7 Areas of Life: so students write a plan in school to inspire and guide them with improved attitude, attendance, and achievement, help parents and counselors know intent and advise better, plus help students communicate, attract, and match with college and career opportunities.
Master Your Goliaths: so people learn a process they can use and teach to set resolutions to help them develop and achieve, assess and change, and overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges to benefit them and society.
II. Patriotism, Character Traits, Freedom of Liberty-Rights-Flourish
Patriotism in Action: so more people take action as well as feel patriotic spirit as we provide events promoting personal leadership, true professionalism, and appreciation for veterans who serve and sacrifice for freedoms.
Veterans Day History and Character Education: so students learn the national history of America's Veterans Day starting in Alabama connected to character traits.
Freedom to Flourish: so more students know they are free to flourish because of liberty and rights and learn how using best-self leadership with a plan for life.
III. Nature nurtures people to plan, grow, renew with animals
Farm and Ranch: so more people seeking to improve or make comebacks can renew and plan better with animals, plants, and nature.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
21 Priority Actions
Serve innovative school, college, and other education leaders to help students write Plans for School and Life so they are better prepared and employers more satisfied. Complement other leadership and student development programs focusing on providing our best resources they do not offer including lessons for Plan for School & Life, Best-Self Leadership, Veterans Day Founding History and Character Traits, Assessing Attitude and Ability, Earn and Delegate Empowerment, and more…. Connect to national movements for Veterans Day, Civil Rights, and Plan for School and Life unique to Alabama and our work. Act now or Alabama will follow.
Seminars for members, partners, advocates most months providing updated publications for their use, plus receive feedback and suggestions from advisors.
Develop and publish Financial Fitness Planbook for the Alabama Money Expo seminars by Melvin C. Smith May 20 and post online for free access to the public.
Support Alabama National Cemetery Committee events–Memorial Day and Wreaths Across America–led by Col. Barefield, chair, Patriotism in Action.
Personal Leadership for Patriots at the Southern Museum of Flight, Nov 2.
Tribute to the Founder of Veterans Day (“Driving Force" per Pres. Reagan) to open National Veterans Day ceremonies hosted in Birmingham Nov 10 at the Weeks Memorial Monument, Linn Park, led by Col. Barefield, emcee Dr. Dyson. Support Riderless horse at Veterans Day Founder Tribute and Parade Nov 10-11.
Develop and provide free online resources for teachers, students, veterans, and true professionals on Best-Self Leadership, Plan for School & Life, and national movements led in Alabama (Veterans Day/Liberty, Civil Rights/Human Rights, Freedom to Flourish–why and how).
Publish blogs and mailings by DrDavid.blog and additional authors on the Life Leaders Blog to support subscribers, teachers, and the public.
Expand, publish, post, and teach 7 Steps to Set Achievable Resolutions.
Expand series, publish, teach Master Your Goliaths Planbook with versions for students facing challenges, veterans making comebacks, prisoners earning re-entry.
Improve and publish Veterans Making Comebacks Planbook and Assessment for veterans groups that develop people beyond helping with basic needs.
Publish Professionalism Under Stress book and articles by Col. Dunn and Dr. Dyson.
Provide Plan for Life Pages and other support for foster children at Raleigh's Place.
Publish updated Freedom to Flourish Planbook with why and how for teachers to use with students.
Update and publish Patriotism in Action book for National Veterans Day honoree, visitors, our events, and those teaching patriotism, freedom, citizenship….
Publish and post Veterans Day Founded in Alabama posters, handouts, slides.
Publish Facebook, news feeds, and other media supporting publications/programs.
Expand and publish planbooks for Goals and Plans for the 7 Areas of Life, 7 Steps to Set Achievable Resolutions, and Master Your Goliaths…
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Core Capabilities and Services
Equipping of Leaders, Teachers, Students, Parents, Boards, Supporters, Community Servant Leaders with advice and assistance plus resources
Best-Self Leadership Education & Development Lectures, Seminars, Courses, Books, Assessments, Tools, and online public service resources
Planning, Leadership, and Community development training, consulting, and service projects for Boards & Professionals
Publications on Planning, Best-Self Leadership, Professionalism Under Stress, Steps to Set Achievable Resolutions, Master Goliaths, Veterans Making Comebacks, Earning Empowerment, Motivation, TIME….
America's Veterans Day Founding in Alabama History, Character Education, and National Branding, with books, posters and more resources for teachers
Patriotism in Action events for Veterans Day education, veterans and families
Alabama's national contributions for Freedom—Veterans Day, Civil Rights, Plan for School & Life.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Sample of Results Led by Life Leaders
Best-Self Leadership + Plan for School and Life
Provided 250+ public events on planning, leadership, patriotism…including 3 national programs (Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, Hyrum Smith and Denis Waitley).
Organized the first lecture in Alabama of Dr. Stephen Covey, author of the best-selling book on personal leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 1993.
Developed models, articles, and teach best practices for Personal Leadership, Professionalism, and Best-Self Leadership.
Developed teaching models on the 7 Areas of Life, Empowerment, Motivating Values, Leadership, Callings & Choices, plus assessments of TIME, Attitude & Ability, Financial Fitness….
Launched the Plan for School & Life initiative to promote people planning and improving plus help educators help students write and internalize plans needed for college, career, citizenship.
Provide Veterans Making Comebacks (homeless and/or challenged by PTSD or moral injury) planbooks & workshops to assess & develop plans to Master Goliaths; support Veterans Leadership Ministry and service organizations.
Longest-running organization in Alabama advancing Best-Self Leadership and Planning for Life.
After “911" attacks on America in 2001–added Patriotism in Action, National Veterans Day Founding History and Character Education, Freedom Lives/Freedom to Flourish/Freedom City, Brand Birmingham, Advance Alabama:
Wrote and published Patriotism in Action, a patriotic guide featuring the history of starting National Veterans Day and 10 character traits.
Wrote and published Professionalism Under Stress to organize lessons from college, corporate, and combat for use in military and civilian life for serious professionals, emerging leaders, and mentors—plus loved ones to understand what is expected in the profession of arms.
Organize annually Tribute to the Founder (“Driving Force") of Veterans Day, Nov. 10, Birmingham (first event added to National Veterans Day traditions since 1947), 2006
Led the campaign of education and legislation that restored Alabama's legacy for starting Veterans Day in 1947 by gaining U.S. Senate Resolution correcting a resolution in 2003, approved November 2012.
Initiator and supported of Advance Alabama campaign for unique contributions as the only state to have led on both national movements for Veterans Day and Civil Rights (Freedom of Liberty and Rights) as well as Birmingham's opportunity to brand for “Freedom City" before the World Games 2021.
Still to get done:
Graduation requirement in school systems for students to write plans for school and life (requirement for preparation and doing one's best)
Best-selling high impact books on Best-Self Leadership and on Plan for 7 Areas of Life.
Web site used by teachers and others across USA to teach students 1)write a plan for school and life; 2)who and where for Veterans Day Founding
Video channel with national impact.
More foundations with vision inviting us to work together.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
LIFE LEADERS AMERICA
Board of directorsas of 07/02/2022
Col. Bob Barefield
US Army retired
Term: 2017 - 2022
Dr. David Dyson
Life Leaders Institute
Term: 1992 - 2022
Melvin Carrington Smith
Lincoln Financial
David Hilton Dyson
Life Leaders Institute
Robert Barefield
US Army Retired
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data