Leadership Coachella Valley and College of the Desert Foundation have announced a new partnership designed to help dedicated and knowledgeable College of the Desert students develop their personal and professional skills while building relationships with many of the region’s leaders.
Learning to Lead is a newly created program designed to offer College of the Desert students the opportunity to participate in Leadership Coachella Valley’s 10-month leadership development program. The goal is to provide the students some real world education and insights into the big picture issues the Greater Palm Springs region is facing today and in the future.
Four College of the Desert students will enroll in the pilot program. Each will be selected through a competitive application process and will have their enrollment fees paid for as well as be awarded a $1,000 scholarship upon completion of the course. Financial support and guidance will come from the Academic Angels Committee, a group of committed volunteers who for years have supported the College of the Desert Foundation’s fundraising efforts.
Once a month from September through June, the Learning to Lead participants will attend an all-day seminar presented by Leadership Coachella Valley, a program designed to identify, motivate and develop future community leaders. The program encourages community involvement by providing knowledge and perspective on valley-wide needs and concerns. The format includes a combination of presentations, panel discussions and hands-on visits to locales relevant to the day’s theme. Experts share their insights and views and interact with participants during lively and meaningful discussions.
“As chair of the Academic Angels Committee, we are thrilled Learning to Lead will now be our signature program. Supporting students has always been our first priority,” said Marge Dodge. “Launching this program in a collaborative effort with an organization like Leadership Coachella Valley makes it even more meaningful to our membership group.”
“Collaborative efforts build long-lasting relationships and friendships, and we believe we have found the right partner in the College of the Desert Foundation. Our vision is to ensure the Leadership programming is continually evolving. By including College of the Desert students, we know we are adding a new dynamic to our program which tells our members we are committed to bringing them fresh and relevant content,” said President of the Leadership Coachella Valley Board of Directors, Shawn Abramowitz.
The College of the Desert Learning to Lead participants will grow in awareness and understanding of the issues and challenges facing their community. They will also develop valuable contacts within the community and networking opportunities for the future. Additionally, while participating in the Leadership Coachella Valley program, College of the Desert’s Learning to Lead participants become more invested in making their community a better place to live and work. Most importantly, they can discover valuable information that helps them to uncover their passion in life, as well as expanding on their prospects toward a future career path.
To learn how you can support Learning to Lead, contact Matt Durkan, Director of Development, College of the Desert Foundation at (760) 773-2561 or [email protected].
For more information on Leadership Coachella Valley, contact Diana Soto, LCV Administrator, Leadership Coachella Valley at (760) 347-0676 or [email protected].
