Women's Leadership Conference 3/4/2011

On Friday, March 4th is the 15th Annual Women's Leadership Conference! The theme of this year’s conference is "Our History is Our Strength". The day will feature a keynote speech from Pam Grier in addition to interactive sessions and programs designed to address contemporary approaches to leadership, inclusive of a more globalized perspective as well as women’s approaches to leadership in the Western World. Participants will identify leadership within themselves, reflect on their own strengths and cultivate confidence with regards to leadership. 

The entire event will be held in the Tivoli Turnhalle on the Auraria Campus on Friday, March 4, 2011 from 8:00am-2:00pm, with Ms. Grier’s keynote address over breakfast 8:30am. Interested participants can register at www.ucdenver.edu/studentlife; select “Get Involved” and then “Leadership Programs”. The registration fee is $5.00 for students, $10.00 for faculty/staff and $15.00 for community members and includes breakfast and lunch.

Reid Palmer, Leadership Graduate Assistant

Leadership is present in many areas at Metro. There are many students who look
for opportunities to develop leadership skills as well as take initiative to be leaders
in the community. Some of the examples of leadership here on campus are: the
Urban Leadership Program, leadership conferences, and Student Government.

The Urban Leadership Program (ULP) is an opportunity for students to develop skills
within leadership. As members in the program students take one class within
leadership studies. In these classes students gain an academic understanding of
leadership. To take this understanding into practice students in ULP also complete
a service-learning project. Also students work with a member of the community
who is a leader to gain knowledge and leadership skills from them. Students in
this program leave the program with the skills and experience to be leaders in the
community after they complete their studies at Metro.

Throughout the year at Metro there are several leadership conferences to attend.
There is the Women’s Leadership, the African-American Leadership, Latino
Leadership, Fraternity and Sorority, and the Leadership Immersion Conference.
Some of these conferences are hosted by other schools on the Auraria Campus but
are open to Metro Students. One of the signature events for leadership programs
at Metro is the Leadership Immersion Conference. This event spread over three
days in Estes Park allows students to address an area on campus where leadership
is needed and explore options through the process. The conference is set around a
book within leadership that helps guide the student’s thinking and gives them ideas
to use for their project.

The Student Government Assembly offers chances for students to take advantage of
opportunity to be leaders in the campus community. As members of the assembly
students hear students concerns and present these ideas to the administrative
leadership of the college. This valuable experience allows students to practice
leadership techniques, and presents real world leadership experience for them.
These are just some of the opportunities for students to look for leadership here on
campus. There are many other chances for students to get involved with leadership
programs and to grow into leaders in the community. Stay tuned to this blog to
learn more about all things leadership that are going on here at Metro.

Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Conference

Colorado Leadership Alliance by Brad Anderson

This last weekend, on Saturday January 29^th, the Auraria campus hosted, for the second year in a row, the Colorado Leadership Alliance’s annual Leadership Summit.  The CLA, an organization that operates under The Leadership Foundation with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, connects the eleven schools across Colorado that operate leadership programs that emphasize both academic achievement and service work. The Urban Leadership Program, Metro’s leadership program, just a year and a half old, currently has 16 members and accepts applications twice a year in November and April.

            The CLA Summit, called Finding Your Passion: New Leadership Opportunities, started off with a bang from Andrew Romanoff, the keynote speaker, and his attitudes and beliefs toward leadership.  Next, the first break out session brought five professionals to the Tivoli where they shared their own paths, interests, and passions. I attended a session by a woman named Jami Duffy. Duffy talked about her life journey after college, which included the Peace Crops, working in Summit County with immigrant workers, to now being the Executive Director of the Flobot’s non-profit organization where she works to promote positive social change through empowerment and youth engagement.

            After Duffy’s amazing presentation, I attended a workshop by college students, for college students.  The workshop, geared on social justice, included students from UNC and USAFA talking about what they are doing on their campuses and within the Coloradoan community. Unfortunately, I had to leave the workshop early to go to my interview for Student Leader of the Year. Each year every college and university in the CLA selects a Campus Leader of the Year to compete against the other ten colleges for the top prize. In the highest public room in the Tivoli, the committee of seven, who scrutinized every aspect of my resume, interviewed me.

            To round out the events of the day the CLA hosted a discussion room called the World Café where students mingled and participated in guided leadership discussions.  After, business leaders came and hosted round table discussions that helped to educate students on everything from interview tips to what steps banks are taking to educate potential homebuyers.  Following the conference was a fabulous reception in Saint Cajetan’s, and even an opportunity to make the world a better place. Some USAFA boys, who helped found an ongoing event called 16^th Street Miracles, lead a small group of students to 16^th street to pass on random acts of kindness and help make the world a better place.

Overall, the day was an immense success and truly has helped shape so many leadership students. If you’re interested in joining the Urban Leadership Program please visit Metro Student Activities website and look under the leadership link.