They came from all professional walks of life with a mission to lead. The Leadership Loudoun Class of 2003 has graduated, learning skills from an eight-month program held each year since 1991. Once a month, from October to May, the participants joined together to address issues facing Loudoun County.
Robin Geiger, a member of Leadership Loudoun's Board of Directors, described the participants as people who are hands-on and prepared to serve. "I know what they've done for Loudoun County," said Geiger, "they leave their 'change projects' as a legacy."
Change projects become the focus for students in the program. Projects have ranged from posting new signs in parks and recreational areas around the community to starting a Loudoun Habitat for Humanity and a Senior Senior Prom Night.
Leadership Loudoun looks for ways to enhance the abilities of people who are looking to become involved. "I think the people who join Leadership Loudoun are leaders already," said Geiger. "They just want to develop their leadership skills more fully."
TO BEGIN THE PROGRAM the new class takes a two-day trip during which they do team-building activities to learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. "We split up into groups in which you learn everyone's style of leading, including your own individual leadership skills," said Patsy Brown Layer, UniServ director at Loudoun Education Association.
Students are split up into three focus groups. "We brainstormed on lots of issues that faced Loudoun County," said Nancy Sutton, executive director of Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers. Some issues included affordable housing, transportation and at-risk youth.
Throughout the year, each group focuses on a specific concern of the county, traveling throughout the community interviewing people to learn more. Bus tours of the county are taken by group members and informative sessions are held, such as Resources Day, in which the members learn about the natural resources of Loudoun County. "It was a great opportunity to learn some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the community," said Brown Layer.
After mastering the details of a specific problem, each group is given a one-day forum in which to educate the other groups in Leadership Loudoun. "It's a good opportunity to network with people and impact the county for the better," said Brown Layer. "It's also a chance to meet people I might not have met otherwise.”
Leadership Loudoun gives members the chance to invest their time and learn how to become a listener.
“I wanted an opportunity to learn more about Loudoun businesses and see how they worked with nonprofit groups,” said Sutton. “Because the groups were small, I got to know a lot of them one on one.” As a result of Sutton’s new contacts, she plans to establish a fund-raising event for nonprofit housing.
ALL OF THIS information gathering is designed to be a catalyst for change through the work of each graduating member. "All leader-type personalities want to use their positive attributes to move forward," said Sutton.
Brown Layer is involved in planning an event for next May called the Taste of Loudoun. Proceeds from the event will go to charities such as Christmas in April.
After a graduating class finishes its eight-month program, the members are on their own. They use their contacts and work with the other leaders from their group, but applying what they've learned is out of Leadership Loudoun's hands. "This year," says Geiger, "the board of directors has tried to get past membership more engaged." By having more direct contact with graduating members, Leadership Loudoun organizers seek to continue the graduates' support of Loudoun County. "We look for ways to draw them back into the program," said Geiger.
Leadership Loudoun is now accepting applicants for 2004. To learn more about Leadership Loudoun, call Robin Geiger at 703-771-5511, mail to P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177 or e-mail pivs@loudoun.gov.