NLN Conferences & Events
Understanding that change happens at the speed of trust, NLN conferences and events provide a brave space for human connection, idea exchange and shared learning across geographies, sectors, generations, and lived experiences.
Through the facilitation of meaningful relationships and the exchange of ideas among the nation’s most civically engaged and trusted local community leaders, the NLN conferences and events aim to inspire and empower leaders to collaborate in building a more connected and flourishing society.
2025
Calling all community leadership alumni! Together with the National Leadership Network, the Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) invites you to attend the 2025 National Conference hosted by Leadership Fort Worth!
We’re thrilled to announce one of our keynote speakers for the 2025 ALP National Conference: Aiko Bethea (Leadership Atlanta alum)! Aiko is the founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting LLC, a leadership development firm that empowers leaders to navigate today’s workplace with impactful and inclusive approaches. We’re excited for Aiko to bring her unparalleled expertise and inspiration to the stage. Here are some highlights of Aiko’s amazing personal leadership journey:
- Leadership roles under Stacey Abrams at the City of Atlanta
- Deputy Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Contributor to The New York Times bestselling anthology You Are Your Best Thing
- Senior Leadership Consultant with Brené Brown Education and Research Group
Aiko’s work focuses on breaking barriers to inclusion, helping leaders and teams foster authentic connections. Join us in Fort Worth, Texas, to hear Aiko kick off our first full day of conference programming!
Learn more about Aiko and the 2025 ALP National Conference here.
2024
In partnership with the National Leadership Network, the Association of Leadership Programs (ALP)‘s 2024 National Conference opened to community leadership alumni across the country! The conference, hosted by Leadership Rhode Island in Providence from August 5-8, convened 275+ community leadership staff and alumni from 150+ organizations spanning 39 states and two countries.
Reginald Lewis (Lead New Jersey alum), Executive Director of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership facilitates an interactive keynote session, The Promise of Servant Leadershp. In a closing Fireside Chat, Jim Harter, Chief Data Scientist at Gallup and Mike Ritz (Leadership RI, 2007) Executive Director of Gallup’s Federall Government Initiative discuss workplace and wellbeing. Additionally, the conference featured 36+ workshops related to state of the workforce, community leadership, civic engagement, building relational infrastructure/bridging differences and civil discourse.
Leadership Rhode Island alumni Barnaby Evans (1995) and Ting Barnard (2015) discussed how leaders can inspire people to support visionary projects that shape the future of communities and places to open the conference, followed by a special performance “Best Class Ever” by Chachi Carvalho (Leadership Rhode Island, 2020). Throughout the conference Leadership Rhode Island alumni engaged as emcees, hosts, workshop speakers and facilitated 30+ Bread & Salt table conversations over lunch with attendees.
Many thanks to our sponsors!
2022-2023
The National Leadership Network develops a partnership with the Association of Leadership Programs (ALP).
2021
Tuesday, December 14, 11:30 ET
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While effective leaders seem to know instinctively the importance and value of stability for creating change, Gallup learned through asking 10,000 followers that STABILITY is one of four basic needs that followers say the most key influential leaders contribute to their lives.
Panelists
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Carol Lin (CA), Senior Advisor to the CEO of Los Angeles County (Former)
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Brother Robert Bathe (NY), Interfaith Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator, Bellevue Health & Hospital Center
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Nancy Oberst (NE), Senior Consultant, Gallup
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Teresa Coyan (MO), VP of Public Affairs, CoxHealth
Tuesday, November 9, 11:30 ET
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“The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope.” -Frank Lloyd Wright
Described as the one area in which higher level leaders can have the most influence in their organization, according to Gallup research, HOPE gives people something to look forward to, which is particularly critical in our most difficult times.
These Discussions That Matter panelists took the initiative to save millions of children around the world, turn the most hardened men and women away from hate for a more peaceful and compassionate society, and challenge and train thousands of leaders and teams to dare to lead.
Panelists
- Navyn Salem (RI), Founder & CEO, Edesia Nutrition
- Daryl Davis (MD), Race Reconciliator
- JerLene Mosley (NE), Strengths and Leadership Consultant.
Tuesday, May 18, 11:30 ET
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Effective Human Resource professionals and managers recognize that employees who feel that a supervisor cares about them at work are more likely to stay with their organization, have more engaged customers, are more productive, and produce more profitability for the organization.
What happens in communities where leaders across sectors and industries behave with compassion, demonstrating that they care for those in their community? What can we accomplish locally by leaning on compassion that could have a collective impact nationally?
Analyzing words like caring, friendship, happiness, and love; Gallup learned through asking 10,000 followers that compassion is one of four basic needs that followers say the most key influential leaders demonstrate in their lives.
Panelists
- Arrey Obenson (MO), President and CEO of International Institute of St. Louis, MO
- Bill Haslam (TN), Former Governor of State of Tennessee
- Chetana Bhat (MD), CEO of Personal, Professional, Relationship Development
Tuesday, February 23, 11:30 ET
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With widening partisan gaps in trust of mass media, government, institutions, and each other; what can we, as leaders, do now and into the future to strengthen trust in our local communities and rebuild trust, collectively, as a nation? Does it matter?
Hear from national experts and trust-building practitioners before you engage with fellow alumni from across the country in small groups, applying theories to practice.
Panelists
- Kevin Malecek (OH) Director of Economic Development and International Trade for the City of Mentor, Ohio
- Kärin Peabody (WA), Dynamic Teaming, Training Consultant
- Mark Patinkin (RI), Columnist, The Providence Journal
2020
Discussions that Matter: Alumni Leadership Insights (Part 2 of 2)
Tuesday November 17, 2020
83% of thousands of alumni who completed our recent survey from 27 states said that they “have an obligation to publicly demonstrate how local leaders from different backgrounds can work together to improve their communities.”
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“Obligation” is a mighty strong word.
You are invited to join us on Tuesday November 17. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more survey results and explore with other alumni how they can individually, through local Community Leadership Programs, and through the National Leadership Network, be more of the leader they would like to see in their communities and our country in this moment.
Which values connect, motivate, and inspire us? These survey results demonstrate that our convictions and actions – our leadership – may provide the trust, compassion, stability, and hope that our communities need to heal and move us forward collectively as a nation, following one of the most divisive presidential elections in U.S. history.
To maintain guest and attendee confidentiality, WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE A RECORDING OF THIS SESSION. You must be present to hear these results and determine the decisions and actions to take in your own community.
Discussions that Matter: Alumni Leadership Insights (Part 1 of 2)
Tuesday October 6, 2020
Have you ever wondered how other leaders are responding to the current pandemic in their communities?
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Join us next Tuesday for the first of a two-part 90-minute presentation and conversation reviewing the results of the very first national alumni survey ever conducted among community leadership programs in recent memory. From July 22 – August 10, over 4500 alumni like yourself took our survey from 27 states, representing every region of the country – a great national random sample* of leaders.
Among other significant findings, in part one we’ll explore your collective responses to the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Was your community prepared?
- What lessons can be learned?
- Do you think your community will emerge from the outbreak stronger or weaker?
- What do other leaders think Community Leadership Programs should focus on to make their communities stronger?
Featured guests include:
- Josh Starr, Owner, Starr Opinion Research
- Marion Paden, President & CEO, Leadership Oklahoma
- Lisa Winkelbauer, Director, Leadership Orlando, Orlando Economic Partnership
To maintain guest and attendee confidentiality, WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE A RECORDING OF THIS SESSION. You must be present to hear these results and determine the decisions and actions to take in your own community.
NLN Networking Building Experience
Tuesday September 22, 2020
Join the hundreds of alumni who have formed new connections across the country since May. This isn’t a webinar to put on in the background while you sort through your inbox.
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This is an opportunity for graduates and alumni from leadership programs across the nation to actively connect with one-another, whether it be through issue-based topics, what’s going on in your region, or taking a break from the serious issues. Remo is a technology that puts you in charge of moving around the virtual room to create your ideal experience.
Discussions that Matter: Fair Elections and Security (Part 2 of 2)
Tuesday September 8, 2020
Preserving our American democracy is dependent on free and fair elections. Political corruption and election fraud have been documented back to the mid-19th century. With the advent of new technologies in the face of a national pandemic many more states are looking beyond physical polling places to collect citizens’ votes. Is it safe?
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Part two of this two-part discussion will explore the history of US elections in crisis moments, cyber-security as it relates to elections, and the potential influence of outside governments on US elections.
This timely conversation features panelists, including a former advisor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Panelists will offer their expertise in election history in other moments of crisis, national security intelligence, cyber-security, and cryptography.
Moderator
- Mike Ritz, Co-Founder, National Leadership Network
Panelists
- Timothy H. Edgar
- Kathleen Hale, PhD
- Anna Lysyanskaya
Read panelist bios
View event recording
(Link also here: https://vimeo.com/456017249)
NLN Networking Building Experience
Tuesday August 25, 2020
This isn’t a webinar to put on in the background while you sort through your inbox. This is an opportunity for graduates and alumni from leadership programs across the nation to actively connect with one-another. Remo is a technology that puts you in charge of moving around the virtual room to make the connections you value.
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The rooms will be divided to allow for general networking, follow-up from the most recent ‘Discussions That Matter’, and leadership program staff networking.
Discussions that Matter: Fair Elections and Security (Part 1 of 2)
Tuesday August 11, 2020
Preserving our American democracy is dependent on free and fair elections. Political corruption and election fraud have been documented back to the mid-19th century. With the advent of new technologies in the face of a national pandemic many more states are looking beyond physical polling places to collect citizens’ votes. Is it safe?
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Part one of this two-part interactive national discussion will give attendees an overview of the elections process, where it is currently, and where it’s going. Immediately following our panel of experts, community leadership program alumni and staff will participate in small virtual breakout rooms to discuss what they, as leaders, can do in their own communities to ensure fair and safe elections now and into the future.
The highly sought-after expert panel features graduates of Leadership Stark County (OH), Leadership Rhode Island (RI), and Leadership Denver (CO). Their combined experience includes expertise in election policy and administration, state and federal voting rights, post-election audits, and election fraud investigation.
Over the past few weeks they have shared their knowledge with NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Daily Show.
Panelists
- Kathleen Hale, Professor of Political Science at Auburn University
- John Marion, Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island
- Leigh Chapman, Director, Voting Rights Program, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Jason O’Toole, former criminal investigator for the GA Secretary of State
- Amber McReynolds, CEO for the National Vote At Home Institute and Coalition
(Link also here: https://vimeo.com/447955409)
Discussions that Matter: Policing and Protests (Part 2 of 2)
Tuesday July 14, 2020
Policing as an institution embodies the use of violent force under the color of law. Protesting as an institution embodies the use of civil disobedience to change the law, under the banner of human dignity and justice.
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Our country has a long history with both, and today’s movement for police reform is one moment in time in this struggle to reconcile state power with citizen’s rights. Every generation brings a new perspective.
This conversation will bring individuals who have decades of experience with police use of force oversight and reform together with some of the young leaders who are demanding change. They will center their conversation around the following question. In the current context, what does it mean to defund, reform, reshape, or re-imagine, policing in this country?
(Link also here: https://vimeo.com/441053826)
NLN Networking Building Experience
Tuesday July 2, 2020
How do we engage community-to-community, state-to-state around the current moment our society is having? How can we be sure what to do or not to do? What steps should we take? How can we, as leaders, make the most effective decisions to influence and drive accountability and action?
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Our recent Discussions That Matter, “Policing & Protests: Beyond the Knee-jerk” was our largest event yet. More than 450 leaders represented 124 community leadership programs from 32 states. It was an important and timely conversation, so I want to share the panel discussion with you.
What you won’t see in the recordings are the small group discussions in which leaders from across state borders, industries, and backgrounds came together to have meaningful conversations around the topics presented by the panel.
Join our next event and networking experience on Remo. Remo is a technology that puts you in charge of moving around the virtual room to make the connections you value. The rooms will be divided to allow for general networking, as well as follow-up from the most recent ‘Discussions That Matter’.
Discussions that Matter: Policing and Protests (Part 1 of 2)
Tuesday June 16, 2020
How do we engage community-to-community, state-to-state around the current moment our society is having? How can we be sure what to do or not to do? What steps should we take? How can we, as leaders, make the most effective decisions to influence and drive accountability and action?
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We invite you to participate in this conversation among your peers across the nation on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:00pm ET.
Hear and receive guidance from seasoned professionals representing corporate, nonprofit, and government entities in four states through this national conversation and thought process we can all rely on during these unprecedented times of certain change.
Moderator
- Donald King, Creative Director at King Saint Germain in Portland, OR
King is a seasoned producer, cultural practitioner and community engagement specialist who is skilled in connecting people, places and perspectives.
Speakers
- Angie Bannerman Ankoma, Executive Vice President, Director of Community Investment, United Way of Rhode Island in Providence, RI
- Nichole Barnes Marshall, Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at L Brands in Columbus, OH
- Wally Siewert, Ph.D., Director of Civic Engagement at FOCUS St. Louis, MO
(Link also here: https://vimeo.com/431642223)
NLN Networking Building Experience
Tuesday June 2, 2020
If you weren’t at our most recent session, you missed the big news. We are unveiling a new way to network for the National Leadership Network experience that is taking place on Tuesday June 2nd, at 1:00pm ET.
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Represent your community as leaders from more than 35 states come together for a NEW virtual networking experience that puts YOU in control of making the connections you want to make.
This isn’t a webinar to put on in the background while you sort through your inbox. This is an opportunity for leaders from across the nation to actively connect with one-another. You will want to show up early, and be camera ready.
Come Together: National Leadership Network (Part 2 of 2)
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Community Leadership Program Colleagues,
100% of the 250+ attendees from 37 states said they’d be back at the conclusion of our last session. Missed the first one? Don’t worry. We’ll catch you up.
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This Tuesday’s event includes a quick recap of our findings from session #1, followed by a brief and timely interview with a special guest, 30 minutes of alumni small group discussion, and another of our famous, inspirational closes.
As in previous hosted experiences by us, there will be polls and chats along the way. We’re creating space for meaningful discussion, so we’ll slow it down a bit, but not enough for you to be distracted with other things while in the session. Our events are dynamic and participatory!
TURN ON YOUR CAMERA. BE PRESENT. LET’S COME TOGETHER!
We are asking you to have at least one staff member from your organization and at least one graduate/alumnus, i.e., someone who has gone through your adult/career program.
Invite a fraction of your alumni/membership or everyone. You decide! This is your local offering to connect your graduates nationally.
Come Together: National Leadership Network (Part 1 of 2)
Tuesday May 5, 2020
We are very excited to host the FIRST EVER national leadership network experience for your alumni/graduates and you!
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We are asking you to have at least one staff member from your organization and at least one graduate/alumnus, i.e., someone who has gone through your adult/career program.
Invite a fraction of your alumni/membership or everyone. You decide! This is your local offering to connect your graduates nationally.