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.