What is the Advancing Leadership program? Here are the four W’s:
WHAT: Advancing Leadership (AL) brings together people who live, work and/or volunteer in Federal Way for a comprehensive community experience. Over nine months, September – June, participants meet at different locations around the city to learn about the important facets of a successful community, work with over 100 local leaders and develop personal leadership skills using our specialized training. The program culminates in a class project that utilizes collective strengths and leaves a lasting impact on Federal Way.
Participants graduate from our program fully prepared to join the growing network of local leaders committed to driving positive change in our city and beyond. This program is made possible by the generous support of our corporate partners, including The Comcast Foundation, Federal Way Public Schools, Weyerhaeuser, Highline Community College, City of Federal Way, St. Francis Hospital and Multi-Service Center.
WHY: The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce and community partners developed our program to ensure a constant influx of inspired, informed leadership in our area. Our mission statement says it all: Advancing Leadership transforms passionate people into a community of extraordinary leaders. Our comprehensive program builds relationships, develops personal strengths, and inspires a commitment to action.
WHO: Men and women who live, work or volunteer in Federal Way are encouraged to apply. Our program seeks participants from every cultural and socio-economic background, stage of (adult) life and level of leadership experience. One of the most significant lasting benefits of AL is the chance to build new relationships with people you might never have met outside of our program. The network you build during your AL year will continue to expand once you graduate. We have over 350 graduates, many of them the people you see leading Federal Way today. Our collective AL experience gives us a significant common bond.
No matter where you are in life, you will learn and grow in Advancing Leadership.
WHEN: Recruitment for each new class generally runs February – May. Applications and deadlines are posted on our website, or interested parties can contact us. Once participants are chosen, they are presented at the graduation of the existing class, then begin their own AL class with a two-day retreat in September. Click for a sample schedule.
For more details, check out our FAQs page.