5 minute read
From Laura Cailloux
• M e s s a g e f r o m L a u ra • Congratulations LS Class of 2022
As we began planning for you, the Leadership Skagit Class of 2022, we looked forward to being in real space together after a year and a half of virtual meetings due to the pandemic. Rather than re-create Leadership Skagit as it always had been, we combined the best of our tools and resources from virtual offerings with the rich experiential days and leadership projects that have always been a part of the program to create a vibrant and collaborative learning experience. It was not quite business as usual though as we managed the limitations and awkwardness of social distancing and masking while trying to build connections. I was so happy to get to see your smiling faces for the first time this winter! We also needed to learn how to offer the program in hybrid in-person and online mode to accommodate everyone who was quarantining. A big shout out to Locke Elder, LS ’20, who saw us struggling and stepped in to manage this new form of delivery. Many of you had to shoulder extra responsibilities caring for family, adding responsibilities as workplaces adjusted to post-pandemic workforce shortages and other demands. You have inspired us by staying committed to the demands of Leadership Skagit. We knew you were leaders before you even began and your resilience, engagement, and joy have been a testimony to that all year long.
Our program would not be possible without the commitment of many of our graduates and other community volunteers. Our stellar volunteer facilitator who showed up every program day for the past two years is Jorge Estefan, LS ’20. We had 30 amazing leaders engaged in planning your program days: Ecology Skagit (Alison Studley, LS ’05 Day Chair, Kevin Jackman, LS ’20, Carol MacIlroy); A Sense of Place (Janie Beasley, LS ’07 Day Chair; Mary McGoffin, LS ’13, Elinor Nakis, LS ’07); Communicating as a Leader (Mary Hudson, LS ’17 Day Chair, Danielle Baird Russell, LS ’14, Amanda Hubik, LS ’16, Brad Tuininga, LS ’18); Building a Healthy Community (Jammie Novak, LS ’21 Day Chair, Ben Thompson, LS ’21, Alan Muia, LS ’05); Law & Justice (Jennifer Sheahan Lee, LS ’17 Day Chair, Michelle Cook, LS ’15, Andy Dugan, LS ’21, Rosemary Kaholokula, LS ’17, Paul Nielsen, LS ’18, Eddie Rogge, LS ’19); Economic Vitality (Jarrod Ball, LS ’20, Heather Carter, LS ’21, Ellen Gamson, LS ’14); Community Services and Steward-
Congratulations
Leadership Skagit Class of 2022!
ship (Debra Lancaster, LS ’05 Day Chair, Peter Donovan, LS ’18, Isabela Ordonez, LS ’16, Kelly Reep, LS ’18); Arts & Culture (Anne Basye, LS ’18 Day Chair, Damond Morris, Spencer Pope, LS ’18, Andrea Vallee, LS ’07). These planning committees engaged 73 volunteers as guest speakers.
In addition, our hard-working curriculum design team continued to refine the essential leadership learning for our program, introducing this content in the opening retreat, then weaving and deepening the learning across the program. The four themes that carry across all program days and the volunteers responsible for developing this content are: Reflection (Kara Stamback, LS ’12 & Kevin Jackman, LS ’20); Transformational Justice (Morgan Curry, LS ’20 & Locke Elder, LS ’20), Leadership & Teams (Laura Flores Cailloux and Danny Hagen, LS ’18) and Community Engagement (Mary Dumas, LS ’04 & Britta Eschete, LS ’06). As we prioritized curriculum content, our central question was, “What knowledge and tools do community leaders need in order to be inclusive and wise in these times?”
With this shift in focus, your Leadership Skagit 2.0 journey began, online in Canvas for background materials on important issues and concepts, in small groups for project work, and in-person for challenge days. You began with a look inward to clarify your values, and build on your strengths, knowing that ultimately leadership development IS self-development. Then you built on this self-awareness with reflection on the ways your experience and identity might have shaped and colored the lens through which you understand the world. You prepared to explore ideas that might challenge your worldview through awareness of your physiological reactions, and building stamina and curiosity to hang in there through discomfort, and to listen and learn.
You practiced connecting the things you care about or issues that concern you to the history and structures that created the current situation. You heard how social issues show up in individual lives by being immersed in powerful stories from diverse voices that are often unheard. You were able to see the innovative models and meet the people responsible for addressing some of our toughest social problems reaffirming that small actions each of us undertake can make a difference. You practiced inclusion and listening, as you leaned into all these stories, becoming curious and seeking to understand the complexity and interrelatedness of our ecosystems and social issues. You worked at forming strong teams through sharing stories and embracing the vulnerability of learning together. Teams practiced adaptive leadership to make progress on tough community issues.
Now each of you has claimed a leadership challenge that you will continue to work on after our program year ends. You used powerful storytelling to connect your values and vision into a story that is memorable and inspires action. You are approaching the work that is needed in our community as an inclusive listener who can embrace difference and engage adaptive and servant leadership frames to co-create change. I am certain as you apply this knowledge and skill you will be making your home, workplace, and community a better place. I have learned so much by being able to engage with you this year and I’m sure our paths will continue to cross as you work toward making our community more just, healthy and sustainable. Congratulations Class of 2022!
