Rochester’s Collaborative Leadership Fellows Program Celebrates 10 years

On Friday, October 27 from 8:30-10:30 am the community is invited to the Collaborative Leadership Fellows (CLF) Program 10th Anniversary Community Engagement Celebration. If you're not familiar with the CLF program it's a unique, community-based leadership program focused on developing a collaborative skill set in individuals from multiple sectors. I participated in the program in 2016. It was life changing. What I liked about the program was that it shows you different ways to lead through collaboration utilizing different networks and enhancing an effort that benefits the community as a whole.

This year’s Community Engagement Celebration features an opportunity to learn about our fellow’s work in the community, a special 10^th Anniversary video, and a keynote address from Pete Geisen, Director of Public Health Services for Olmsted County and a member of our first cohort.  The event is free and open to the public.  "We want this to be a community celebration of the power of collaboration and how working together across sectors to address complex issues can make a positive impact in the Rochester area.  Plus, it's a great way for those who are interested in our program to discover what CLF is all about," said Davis.

Even after someone has gone through the CLF program, Alumni still remain involved. Week of events including recognition from the Olmsted County Commissioners on October 17^th; packing gifts bags with food, toys, and messages of hope for families of children receiving treatment at Mayo Clinic - Saint Marys Campus on October 25^th, and recognizing this year’s fellows program completion on October 27^th .

Karen Lemke, Head of Marketing and Community Engagement for Rochester Public Library and CLF Alumni, says that CLF was a transformative experience for her. "I not only learned an important collaborative leadership skill set that I can apply to my work at the library and in the community at large," Lemke said, "I also expanded my network into new areas and learned more about the various issues facing our community."