The onPrinciple Traditioned Innovation Learning Cohort is a twelve-month leadership formation experience followed by a six-month leadership experiment designed to equip YMCA CEOs and senior leaders to allow Christian principles reflected in the YMCA mission to shape leadership practice and strengthen their capacity to lead change. Rooted in the YMCA's Christian heritage and open to leaders of all faith traditions and those open to exploring matters of faith, participants explore what it means to put Christian principles into practice in the twenty first century while journeying alongside a trusted community of peers.

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Leaders participate in Triads or Quads, learning with two or three senior colleagues from their YMCA through virtual learning, guided reflection, experiential learning, and practical application. Anchored in Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger, the cohort explores the practice of Traditioned Innovation—remaining rooted in the YMCA's historic mission while courageously adapting leadership to meet the changing needs of today's communities.

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A defining feature of the experience is a seven-day England immersion, where participants trace the footsteps of George Williams from his early years in Southwest England to St. Paul's Cathedral and the founding of the YMCA in London. Alongside YMCA leaders in England, participants discover how the YMCA vision first took root, how the movement spread throughout the world, and how Christian principles continue to shape leadership practice and organizational life within one of the world's most influential global cities.

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Throughout the cohort, participants engage in virtual learning, guided reflection, and practical application within their own YMCA context. During the final six months, each Triad or Quad designs and implements a contextual leadership experiment that addresses a real organizational opportunity or challenge. The experience culminates in a virtual shared learning session where participants reflect on their experiments, celebrate growth, and discern how Traditioned Innovation can continue to shape faithful, mission centered leadership within their associations.

 

The cohort experience includes:

• A Virtual Orientation 

• Virtual learning sessions 

• A 7-day London immersion experience

• An in-person gathering where participants will design a contextual leadership experiment and practice their learning alongside colleagues

• A virtual closing symposium 18 post-launch where participants share insights, learning, and organizational impact  

 

Participants will:

• Explore the practice of Traditioned Innovation within the YMCA context 

• Allow Christian principles reflected in the YMCA mission to shape leadership practice 

• Strengthen their capacity to skillfully lead change in complex and uncertain environments 

• Build trusted relationships with peer leaders in England across the YMCA US movement 

• Apply learning through contextual leadership experiments 

• Strengthen mission-centered leadership within their YMCA