The two leadership programs of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Greensboro and Other Voices – are seeking a new crop of students for the 2021-22 class, and the chamber is now accepting applications.

Leadership Greensboro – the three-part, nine-month “signature” leadership program of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – will include 45 people selected from across the city.

According to the chamber’s promotional material, the group “provides the city with an ongoing source of diverse leaders who are committed to serving as catalysts and sustainers of positive change for the quality of life in the greater Greensboro area.”

One graduate of the program called it “a master’s degree in community,”

The group studies things like local government operations, the nonprofit industry, big business, entrepreneurship, education, human services and diversity and inclusion. The program includes a retreat with the Center for Creative Leadership that features “customized, innovative curriculum and executive coaching sessions.”

Leadership Greensboro finishes out each year with participants pitching projects meant to solve a problem in the community.  Some of those projects become a reality.  A few things that started this way are the Greensboro Children’s Museum, the Guilford Education Alliance’s Teacher Supply Warehouse and the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium.

Applications are due by Friday, July 30. Go to greensboro.org/whatwedo/leadership-development for more information and to access the application. Questions can be sent to Niketa Greene, vice president for leadership, diversity and inclusion, at ngreene@greensboro.org.  There’s also a podcast available that explains the program.

Interestingly, the Leadership Greensboro members who just graduated in May –seen above in the photo by Holly West – got together for the first time at that graduation last month.  The 2020-2021 program year was fully virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The coming year should be a lot less virtual.

The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Other Voices program is also accepting applications for the 2021-22 year. Those applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 23.

Other Voices is an annual, eight-month program of about 30 participants who are, according to the chamber, “challenged to talk about ‘oppressive-isms’ that affect their personal lives, community and overall quality of life.”

The program began in 1993 with a group of professionals who were interested in making the Greensboro community more inclusive. The program has grown over the past three decades and now claims more than 600 alumni. 

Now, the Other Voices selection committee is looking for applicants “who represent a cross section of the community, demonstrate a sincere commitment to improving human relations and have a genuine concern for the future of our community.”

Those interested can apply at https://greensboro.org/whatwedo/leadership-development/other-voices/other-voices-application/.

 

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