Wednesday 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Session Details

 Feeling overwhelmed?  Anxious about achieving goals? Just plain stuck? Help is on the way! •  CANCELED

REPLACEMENT SESSION | REPEAT OFFERING

It's Getting H.O.T. in Here: Creating Emotionally Safe Learning Environments   • Kindra Dionne | Leadership Loudoun, VA - 301 A

Today's leaders face unprecedented challenges with real-time communication, social media, and the intense pressure to remain politically correct and culturally conscious at all times. While our community leadership programs strive to create immersive opportunities for social learning, we, as practitioners, must go the extra mile to ensure that learners feel safe learning. Adult learners must feel respected and safe in order to fully engage and maximize the experience. This session will guide practitioners through the creation of H.O.T. learning environments and the process of introducing tough topics in a safe space.    

About the Speaker: Kindra Dionne is the Founder purpose WorX, LLC, and the Program Coordinator for Leadership Loudoun. Kindra holds a Master's in Adult Education Training & Development and a Bachelor's in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Professionally, Kindra has spent the past 17 years working in Human Resource Development, Training and Development, Employer Services, and Business and Economic Development. During her tenure in Economic Development, Kindra led the charge in her community to create a support system for HUBZone companies and local job seekers. This model is now being duplicated in communities across the country. Kindra also serves on the HUBZone National Council, where she is Chair of the Economic Development Committee.    


Making Changes: How Listening to Youth Class Members Leads to More Relevant Programming • Lindsey Jurgens | Hall County Leadership Unlimited, NE - 301 B

While we're all doing our best to create and maintain programs that benefit our youth program members, sometimes the biggest favor we can give ourselves is the input of those very participants. Youth Leadership Tomorrow of Grand Island, Nebraska, has seen increased engagement and learning outcomes due to changes made with the guidance of class members. As our world continues to evolve, so do the needs and desires of our young people. Why not include their input in program development? Hear how the inclusion of student perspectives helped to reshape critical elements of the Youth Leadership Tomorrow program, increasing action, accountability, and ownership of participants in the latest cohort. Take with you stories of failure, success, and constant program editing, hopefully preparing you to take risks and have some fun with your next youth cohort!

About the Speaker: Lindsey Jurgens is the Program Coordinator for Leadership Unlimited in Grand Island, Nebraska. In her two years with the organization, she's revamped the youth program, Youth Leadership Tomorrow, to increase engagement, ownership, and skills training for class members. Her primary focus is to empower her high school juniors to apply what they learn and have an impact wherever they go in their futures.


Achieving New Heights: Milestone Celebrations • Panel - 301 C

Community Leadership Programs began popping up around the nation in the '70s through the '80s and have spent the last five decades evolving. Now many programs are reaching new heights and celebrating milestone anniversaries.  Is your program gearing up to celebrate a milestone anniversary in the coming year or two? Hear from three of your ALP colleagues whose programs have each respectively celebrated 40, 45, and 50 years of continuous operation in 2023. From luncheons to marketing campaigns, and weekends slated with events, hear what has been successful for Leadership Tulsa (OK), Leadership Lackawanna (PA), and Leadership Greater Hartford (CT).  

PANELISTS
Nicole Morristell | Leadership Lackawanna, PA
Michael Davis | Leadership Tulsa, OK
Andre Santiago | Leadership Greater Hartford, CT

Moderated by Andre Santiago. Andre oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of all programs at Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) as well as the organization’s extensive consulting and training services. Having joined the staff in 2007, he has risen through the ranks serving as Program Director overseeing youth programs for ten years and then as Senior Program Director prior to his newest appointment. In the course of his tenure, he has had involvement with and/or provided leadership to most of the core programs offered by LGH. He is a certified Enneagram trainer and often serves as a coach/mentor for many of LGH’s program participants. Andre is currently participating in Cornell University’s certificate program in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has served on numerous boards and currently serves on the Board of InterCommunity Health Care, which provides physical care, mental health, and addiction services to individuals throughout the state. Santiago is also a City of Hartford Commissioner. 


Small Program, Big Impact • Christine Kennedy | Leadership Lynchburg, VA - 301 D

If you struggle with insufficient capacity, whether it's staff, funding, or engagement, this session is for you! Twenty years ago, Leadership Lynchburg was a single program with a 'one size trying to fit all' curriculum. Today, Leadership Lynchburg has grown from this one program to three, with an active and engaged core of alumni who ensure that quality and impact are at the forefront of all that is done.

About the Speaker: Christine Kennedy has been program director for the Chamber-based Leadership Lynchburg since 2000. She was hired to overhaul a struggling program that had been in existence since 1977. Since that time and due largely to the credit she gives to ALP, she has built the organization from one Flagship program to three programs with a strong volunteer leadership structure all while navigating the other aspects of her Chamber responsibilities.  She is also a recipient of ALP's Preceptor Award and is an instructor for ALP's Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) designation.



Engage and Activate Adult Program Participants  • Panel  - 301 D

Join these highly experienced Community Leadership Program professionals whose class members often span from Gen Z to the Baby Boomers. Hear how our panelists are adapting their program session days and curriculum in an ever-changing world. Learn tips and tricks for keeping your class participants engaged in the learning. Come with questions! This is a very interactive session, explicitly tailored to the needs/questions of those present.

PANELISTS
Reggie Crenshaw | Leadership Memphis, TN
Marianne Crosley | Cleveland Leadership Center, OH
Michelle Carr |  Leadership Rhode Island

About the Moderator: Jessica Hendricks is the Executive Director of Leadership Unlimited in Grand Island, Nebraska. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science  from Doane University. Jessica is a Certified Community Leadership Practitioner through the Association of Leadership Programs. Jessica has been involved in the Grand Island Young Professionals, Toastmasters, and the Grand Island Little Theatre. Before joining Leadership Unlimited, Jessica served as the Director of Workforce and Community Development for the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce and as the Community Liaison for Congressman Adrian Smith.