Association of Leadership Programs

Richland LEAD’s Engage Richland Recognized with 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award

August 5, 2026

Investing in leaders. Strengthening community. Creating lasting impact.

Richland LEADS exemplified all three, and more, as the recipient of the 2026 ALP Excellence in Innovation Award, presented at this year's National Conference.

This annual award recognizes a community leadership program that demonstrates creative and impactful approaches to leadership development. Richland LEADS earned this honor for its innovative Engage Richland program and its unique two-layer mentorship model, which develops emerging professionals while strengthening the local community.

A Leadership Model That Gives Back

During the 2025–2026 program year, Engage Richland partnered with Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring to create a mentorship experience unlike any other.

The program paired each of its 15 emerging leaders with an experienced professional mentor, providing intentional career guidance, structured conversations, and ongoing support throughout the program. At the same time, participants became mentors and advocates themselves by helping recruit volunteers, supporting youth mentoring initiatives, and serving as mentors for the day.

This dual approach allowed participants to grow as leaders while making an immediate difference in the lives of local youth.

Measurable Community Impact

The two-layer mentorship model delivered meaningful results across Richland County, including:

• Fourteen new mentor-mentee matches, with eight already meeting regularly.
• Approximately $10,000 in outreach and recruitment support provided to Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring.
• Improved mentor matching through participant engagement with local youth.
• New long-term volunteer commitments from Engage participants.

The recruitment campaign also increased awareness of youth mentoring throughout the community, resulting in a waiting list of 125 children and providing valuable recommendations to strengthen future recruitment and onboarding efforts.

Strengthening Richland LEADS

The innovation also enhanced the Engage Richland experience by increasing participant engagement, leadership confidence, and employer satisfaction. It strengthened relationships with community partners, expanded the program's visibility, and reinforced Richland LEADS' role as a trusted leader in both workforce development and community engagement.

Building on its success, Richland LEADS will continue the two-layer mentorship model during the 2026–2027 program year by partnering with a new youth-focused nonprofit, ensuring the program remains sustainable, adaptable, and responsive to community needs.

Congratulations to Richland LEADS for demonstrating excellence in innovation and for creating a leadership model that develops professionals, strengthens organizations, and builds stronger communities.