Through TANGO’s work, one message has come through clearly: nonprofit boards across our region are facing a shared challenge—they need the next generation of talented, prepared leaders.

This is our response.

This spring, we launched the Worcester Civic Leaders Program (WCLP) at Worcester State University through the John J. Binienda Center for Civic Engagement—bringing the TANGO nonprofit model directly to campus. This selective, year-long cohort prepares undergraduates to step into real leadership roles by pairing hands-on board service with structured leadership development.

From more than 20 applicants, five students were selected for the inaugural cohort: Connell Kenough, Yariel Lopez, Lynn Wanjiku, Michael Juarez, and Nicolas Vanegas. Each student will serve on a local nonprofit board—including United Way of Central Massachusetts, Friendly House, Guild of St. Agnes, and the YMCA—while receiving compensation, academic credit, and a TANGO certificate of completion.

From the very first session, students were asked to define themselves as civic leaders. Michael Juarez captured this shift best: “I want to go from the sideline to being an active player.”

That transformation—from observer to participant—is at the heart of this work.

In just a few sessions, students have already begun building the skills and confidence to lead. They are strengthening public speaking and advocacy, learning the realities of nonprofit governance, and connecting their lived experiences to broader community impact. What once felt distant—board service, civic leadership—now feels tangible and within reach.

What we are building is more than a program—it is a blueprint. By embedding TANGO’s training model into an undergraduate experience, we are creating a scalable, place-based approach to civic leadership education. Students don’t just learn about nonprofits—they actively shape them and their communities.

As this inaugural cohort prepares to begin their board placements, one thing is clear: when students are trusted with real responsibility, they rise to meet it. And this is just the beginning.