Representative Lois DeBerry Leadership Institute
NOBEL Women is the only network of Black women elected state legislators in the country, with NOBEL Women members collectively representing upwards of 20 million Americans. As a valuable voice for Black communities, NOBEL Women communicates the critical needs of Black constituencies to the media, legislatures, and government to affect change. Established in 2002, the NOBEL Women Leadership Institute (NOBEL Women Leadership Institute or the Institute) is a training program designed to help participants develop the expertise they need to become public leaders.
The NOBEL Women Leadership Institute seeks to provide programs that support the advancement of Black women in public office, to offer a network and support for women engaged in public policy, and to serve as an educational resource to Black women looking to gain the necessary training to run for elected office.
Recognizing the evolution of the role of the Black woman in today’s society, NOBEL Women in partnership with the Center for American Women in Politics at the Rutgers University Eagleton Institute of Politics is committed to identifying, educating, cultivating, and elevating the next generation of Black women leaders in state government through the "NOBEL Women Lois M. DeBerry Leadership Training and Educational Development Institute" (The Institute).
Since its inception in 2002, The Institute has achieved national prominence as one of the signature programs of the organization. It is heralded as a premiere educational forum that has provided leadership, public policy, and campaign training that has prepared over 200 Black women to run for public office, seek board appointments, and advance in careers in the public, corporate, and community sector. NOBEL Women believes that it is just as important that we create a culture of succession to ensure that there are no gaps or lapses in smart, effective, efficient leadership.