The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Develop leaders with Leadership Northwest
Last year’s Leadership Northwest class was one for the books and now we turn our sights to the class of 2020. Can you identify a future leader in your organization? Or maybe it’s you and you’d like to get more involved in the community while gaining leadership skills and learning more about yourself.
Our Leadership Northwest program, now in its 17th year, is designed to develop resourceful, motivated business leaders committed to making this region a better place to live and work.
Participants of Leadership Northwest attend workshop sessions one day a month. The 9month program gives them opportunities for contact with influential community leaders, provides experience in group dynamics, team leadership, professional and personal growth and builds working relationships and friendships with diverse members of the community. In addition, participants collaborate on a selfdirected communityoriented team project that responds to a need in the region.
In the last 17 years, 63 projects were executed by the class participants including a welcome center, downtown festival, Earth Day cleanup, walking tour of Winsted, physical fitness challenge for elementary school students, Financial Reality Fair for high schoolers, a scholarship fund for summer campers, concert for individuals in recovery, job shadowing day for high school students, Little Free Libraries, a Mental Health Awareness Fair, and many more. In total, the projects have raised $101,051.35 that was then donated to various organizations in the community.
What does Leadership Northwest offer?
The employers gain: Employees with increased leadership, organizational and problem solving skills.
A strengthened involvement in community affairs.
New access to a network of community leaders and resources.
Public recognition of their community involvement.
Enhanced employee morale.
The community gains: A committed, knowledgeable group of people prepared to accept key positions on community boards.
A broadbased pool of individuals sensitive to the diverse populations in the community.
A group with a greater appreciation of the issues facing our community today and in the future. Participants receive: Experience with group dynamics and team leadership along with professional and personal growth.
Understanding of leadership styles.
Opportunities for contact with influential regional leaders.
Leadership NW participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions to graduate. Times may vary but most sessions generally run from 9:00a.m 4:00p.m. Participants in the program will require full support from their employer and acknowledgement of the time required away from their position.
Leadership Northwest is sponsored by Torrington Savings Bank and supported by a grant from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board.
The 20192020 class is forming now. Please visit our website for more information and to download the applicationhttp://nwctchamberofcommerce.org/eventsprograms/leadershipnorthwest/. Applications must be completed and returned to the NW CT Chamber no later than September 6, 2019.
Upon receipt of a completed application, a personal interview will be scheduled. Applications are accepted and interviews are conducted on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified of acceptance no later Sept. 13.