The Citizen Leadership Academy is back and gearing up for another exciting session, starting in February 2025. Organized by Thrive Excelsior, this unique program is now accepting applications until Friday, January 24th. Interested individuals can apply online at bit.ly/ThriveCLAinfo.
What is the Citizen Leadership Academy?
The Citizen Leadership Academy, an initiative of the City of Excelsior Springs’ Communities of Excellence program, is designed to educate and empower future community leaders. This seven-week series connects participants with local leaders and provides an in-depth look at how the city operates, equipping attendees with the knowledge and skills to make a lasting impact.
A Program Built for Future Leaders
The Academy covers a broad range of topics, including leadership development, community health and wellness, economic vitality, housing, and public safety. Participants will:
- Assess their personal leadership strengths and weaknesses.
- Learn about long-range city planning and decision-making guided by key data sets.
- Gain insight into community issues through tours and discussions with leaders from local organizations like the hospital and housing authorities.
Whether participants aspire to hold public office, join a commission, or simply deepen their understanding of Excelsior Springs, the Academy offers valuable tools and connections to foster meaningful engagement in the community.
Why Join the Academy?
For those looking to make a difference, the Citizen Leadership Academy provides a comprehensive view of the city’s operations while fostering relationships with local leaders. Past participants have praised the program for offering new perspectives and opportunities to collaborate on improving Excelsior Springs.
Stay Connected
To learn more about Thrive Excelsior and its ongoing efforts to enhance economic vitality, health and wellness, and housing in Excelsior Springs, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ThriveExcelsior.
Don’t miss this opportunity to grow as a leader and contribute to the future of Excelsior Springs. Apply today and take the first step toward meaningful community involvement!
Kim Halfhill has more than 15 years experience working in the nonprofit sector, specializing in supporting organizations through team building, strategic planning, volunteer management, and leadership coaching. She is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where she completed her Master of Science degree in Administration with an emphasis in Leadership at the University of West Florida. She is the founder and principal consultant of KH Consulting. Kim and her family are residents of Excelsior Springs and are active members of the community.
Communities of Excellence 2026 (COE 2026) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that hosts a national learning collaborative of communities across the country, trains communities in the Baldrige-based Communities of Excellence Framework, and provides opportunities for communities to work together, share successes, challenges, ideas and best practices, and learn from each other on their performance excellence journey. Visit our website for more information about the 22 communities participating in the National Learning Collaborative.
Visit communitiesofexcellence2026.org to learn more about the National Learning Collaborative: A Systematic Approach to Excellence in Communities: Using a Baldrige-based Framework to Lead Transformation.
For more information on our local Communities of Excellence program, click here.
