A short time remains before the May 29th application deadline for Leadership Asheville, the region’s foremost community leadership development organization since 1982.
“You get great connections with people in the community that you might not meet otherwise … I’ve lived here almost 20 years and I learned something new every program day,” said Adrianne Gordon, director of marketing and operations for JB Media Group, who just completed Leadership Asheville’s 33rd annual program.
Gordon worked as part of a team of Leadership Asheville participants who helped the Western North Carolina AIDS Project build bridges to job sources for its clients. Other teams worked with the Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Helpmate, Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County, Read to Succeed Asheville and the YMCA of Western North Carolina.
Leadership Asheville’s unique format makes the community the classroom, bringing people together from all sectors who are interested in strengthening their knowledge of, commitment to, and involvement in collaborative leadership and community service. Participants develop an in-depth understanding of the greater Asheville community and acquire the skills and tools necessary to contribute in a variety of leadership roles.
Many employers commit to financially cover their employees’ participation in Leadership Asheville because they recognize the value of a development program that costs just $20 per training hour. Each participant is also asked to personally contribute toward their tuition for the program. Financial assistance is available on a limited basis.
Leadership Asheville Program 34 begins with a full-day orientation and a separate two-day, two-night opening retreat, both in September, and continues with full-day monthly sessions through graduation on May 12, 2016. Additional involvement in the following year allows participants to meet and engage with a broader community of leaders.
Leadership Asheville, a program of UNC Asheville, receives generous support from its sustaining partners: Mission Health System, BorgWarner, and TD Bank.
The deadline for application is Friday, May 29. For more information and an application to the Leadership Asheville Program 34, visit www.leadershipasheville.org or contact Susan Bean at [email protected] or 828.255.7100.