Southwest Initiative Foundation recently announced the participants who will make up this year’s Growing Local: Emerging Leaders cohort, representing 10 different communities across southwest Minnesota.
Growing Local: Emerging Leaders is designed to help up-and-coming leaders discover and build on their unique strengths so they can make a difference through local boards, commissions and elected positions. It’s facilitated by SWIF in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension.
This year’s participants are:
- Abebe Abetew, Worthington
- Marlen Balster, Adrian
- Elizabeth Briones Flores, Worthington
- Alma Contreras, Murdock
- Savina Gerren, Windom
- Petra Jimenez, Fulda
- Darren Lind, Woodstock
- Chukuma Ijioma, Litchfield
- Abigail Navarro, Hutchinson
- Jose Ivan Parga, Worthington
- Samantha Prechel, Sanborn
- Michael Peters, Tyler
- Jaime Salinas, Worthington
- Mary Anne Wangen, Hutchinson
- Julia Wright, Fulda
“I am so excited about the group of leaders we have for this year’s Growing Local: Emerging Leaders cohort. I look forward to connecting with each leader and growing alongside each of them as they navigate their leadership journey.”
Khou Lor, SWIF Rural Equity Specialist and program coordinator for Growing Local: Emerging Leaders
Growing Local: Emerging Leaders is geared toward people who are interested in being more involved in formal leadership roles in their community. From April through November, participants will meet monthly to learn about board and commission structures, get tools and resources to navigate the leadership journey and connect with a supportive network of emerging leaders and mentors. The sessions take place in communities across the region.
Find out more
Growing Local: Emerging Leaders launched in 2023. Read about the first cohort.
